Evanston businessman raises awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s

One Evanston businessman will be heading to island of Crete to kayak approximately 350 miles as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Illinois Chapter.
Businessman Bob Danon is picking up the paddle this September to kayak around at least three of Crete’s coasts hoping to raise awareness, and funds, for the Greater Illinois Chapter.

69 year old man to kayak 350 miles to raise money for Alzheimer’s Association®

One Evanston businessman will be heading to island of Crete to kayak approximately 350 miles as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Illinois Chapter.
Businessman Bob Danon is picking up the paddle this September to kayak around at least three of Crete’s coasts hoping to raise awareness, and funds, for the Greater Illinois Chapter. Danon has had several friends and family members be affected by this disease so he is hoping to raise at least $50,000 for the chapter. After seeing his friends’ father, Phil, go through the disease, Danon knew he had to do something.
“I spent a lot of time with Phil over the months that followed [his diagnosis], I was able to observe the slight and then significant changes taking place in his mind and in his life,” Danon said. “Like many, Phil became somewhat adept at covering up his uncertainties. And there were times when he could reach far back in his memory and pull up the remotest of details. But the fact remained, Phil’s Alzheimer’s was progressing.”
This is not the first time Danon has paddled for a purpose. In 2007 he paddled about 225 miles around parts of Crete, to raise money for the Kira Arney Fund and Pediatric Cancer Research, at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. This time around, he hopes to paddle almost 100 miles more.
“I will begin my paddle on the north coast, somewhere between the town of Hania, Gulf of Kissamos, (a bit further west) and paddling up and around the very northwest corner. I will continue down the west coast, across the south coast and up the east coast and quite possibly will round the north east corner and continue on heading back west, to the town of Siteia and depending on the wind and water with any luck, I will reach the beautiful city of Agi Nikolaos. The goal is to paddle 300-350 miles.”
The money raised will stay in Illinois and help the 210,000 Illinois residents living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Worldwide, there are at least 44 million people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and it is the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and this number is estimated to grow to as many as 16 million by year 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association® 2014 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures report.
Click here to follow Bob’s journey.

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Hilarity for Charity engages millennials in fight against Alzheimer’s disease

Actress and writer Lauren Miller, along with husband Seth Rogen, co-founded Hilarity for Charity in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. The couple is dedicated to raising Alzheimer’s disease awareness among millennials, using hope and humor to rally the younger generation to fight Alzheimer’s.

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

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Hilarity for Charity engages millennials in fight against Alzheimer’s disease

Actress and writer Lauren Miller, along with husband Seth Rogen, co-founded Hilarity for Charity in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. The couple is dedicated to raising Alzheimer’s disease awareness among millennials, using hope and humor to rally the younger generation to fight Alzheimer’s.

http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php

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Alex’s Artwork – Alzheimer’s Disease

The assignment was clear; find a concentration that is meaningful to you that shows a progression through twelve pieces of art. When approaching the project, St. Francis High School Senior Alex Fisher knew exactly what she wanted as the concentration of her Advanced Placement Art portfolio.
“When we were told to find something meaningful for our concentration, I felt I could show the progression of Alzheimer’s through the pictures of my grandpa’s life,” Alex said.

The assignment was clear; find a concentration that is meaningful to you that shows a progression through twelve pieces of art. When approaching the project, St. Francis High School Senior Alex Fisher knew exactly what she wanted as the concentration of her Advanced Placement Art portfolio.
“When we were told to find something meaningful for our concentration, I felt I could show the progression of Alzheimer’s through the pictures of my grandpa’s life,” Alex said. Her grandfather Richard Nagel, who celebrated his 90th birthday in January, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Diseases three years ago.
Alex decided to spend more time with her grandfather last summer, the summer before her senior year of high school. “We spent time together looking through old photos and albums,” Alex said. “Now he is no longer able to read well and doesn’t always recognize me when we visit. He can no longer use a phone or remember to take his medications correctly.”
Alzheimer’s disease has impacted her family not once, but twice. Alex’s grandmother Nancy Nagel suffered from Alzheimer’s, passing away in 2005, seven years after she was diagnosed. Just six years after she passed, Nancy’s husband Richard would be diagnosed with the same disease.
“At this point in time he is better at remembering things from his distant past then more recent memories,” said Alex. She says through the frequent visits, she learned a lot about her grandpa’s life by going through pictures for this project. She wasn’t the only one, Alex’s mother Kimberly Fisher found out a few new things as well. “Both Alex and I learned about events in my father’s life we weren’t aware of prior to this project,” Fisher said. “Alex was able to sit with him and review pictures that seemed to bring back memories.”
Among the pictures they found was Alex’s favorite picture, “When [my grandpa] was surprised at a birthday party because it shows how silly he was.” Most of Alex’s own memories of her grandfather are of him being funny. “He likes to dance, sing, tell stories and read. He is smart and graduated with a business degree from Northwestern University.”
Alex’s AP Art teacher, Tia Holinger said Richard was a consultant to Ronald Reagan at one point in his career, which is why you see Reagan in some of Alex’s Artwork. Her Mom Kimberly says some of the stories portrayed in Alex’s art have special meaning for the family.
“There are pieces in the series of artwork that are my favorite and bring back special memories,” said Kimberly. “We plan on framing those and hanging them in our home.” Alex hopes people can look at this art inspired by her grandfather and feel the emotional journey a person and their family experiences with Alzheimer’s.
This was certainly an emotion journey for Richard as well. He cried when he saw Alex’s pictures. “My father became quit emotional when he saw her artwork,” said Kimberly.
In recent years Alex has been interested in Alzheimer’s disease because of the effect it has had on her family. Her mom thinks this project will have a lasting impact on Alex. “I thought the way her artwork showed the progression of her grandfather’s life was both thoughtful and unique.”
Alex hopes to continue to be a champion for Alzheimer’s Disease as she attends DePaul University in the Fall. She plans to major in Graphic Art and/or Digital Media. – See more at: http://www.alzheimers-illinois.org/enewsletter/weekly/august2014/aug13/alex_artwork.asp#sthash.BT8kPjVq.dpuf

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Low levels of vitamin D may increase Alzheimer’s disease risk

A new study confirms a correlation between vitamin D levels and risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia but does not say what causes which. For example, having dementia may cause vitamin D levels to go down, or there may be a third factor that affects both vitamin D levels and dementia risk. Clinical trials are necessary to investigate whether increasing vitamin D can delay or prevent Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s Association is pleased to have provided some of the funding for this research.

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