June was national Alzheimer’s awareness month. June 21st, being the longest day of the year, is the day set aside to join with others around the world and do something to honor people living with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers, and those lost to the disease. It was also a day to raise funds and awareness to advance the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
We participated in The Longest Day to show our love for Norma Butts, Eloise Bowers, Agnes Graham and other loved ones of the local Alzheimer’s Team Iris members.
Since plants and gardening was a big part of our loved ones’ lives, Team Iris had a planting day at Centennial Park in downtown Huntington on June 21st. We started at 8:00 am and worked until everything was planted. Donations of plants were also welcome. We also had a Kool-Aid stand set up and we sold raffle tickets on Main Street throughout the day.
The winner of the raffle was drawn and I am happy to announce the winner was Mr. Jordan Oliver. He works for UPS and his grandfather currently is battling Alzheimer’s. Congratulations Jordan!
Brother Marlow Shubert, Master Gardener, showed up at the park helping us weed and mulch the flower beds around the fountain in Centennial Park. Then Bro. Shubert demonstrated how to plant Iris’ and Roses so that they will grow into beautiful flowers when they mature. It was a lot of work but the end results will hopefully remind everyone that passes Centennial Park of the people who are either fighting or have lost their fight to Alzheimer’s.
I would like to extend a very special Thank You for the donations from our local businesses and individuals. Because of them we were able to raffle off a basket worth over $420 to help the Alzheimer’s Association advance research toward the first survivor of Alzheimer’s and provide care and support to those facing the disease today....
• Dean’s Meat Market (Huntington)
• Cinemark Theaters (Lufkin)
• Huntington Lube
• Mary Young and Donna Storment at Mary’s Hair Design, Huntington
• Jene Burnett (individual Scentsy Dealer)
• El Unico Mexican Restaurant
(Huntington)
• Excell Carwash (Lufkin)
• Haute as Ice (Chloe Ice)
• Chick-Fil-A (Lufkin)
• All Things For All Seasons Vendor Mall- Tonya Halnar (Lufkin)
• Liza’s Garden (Huntington)
• Boot’s Hardware (Huntington)
• Star Food & Fuel aka New Way
(Huntington)
• Rusty Reds, Stephanie Brooks and CJ Johnson
• Integra Insurance Services
(Huntington)
• Piney Woods Sanitation
(Huntington)
• Bro. Marlow Shubert (Huntington)
• Brookshire Brothers
And a big Thank You to all those who stopped by and supported us on the longest day with your donations and raffle purchases!
Today, an estimated 47 million people across the world are living with dementia. This number is set to skyrocket to 75 million by 2030 and there is no cure. In the United States alone, more than 15 million caregivers generously dedicate themselves to those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. These numbers will only continue to rise unless we all take action.
I would also like to remind everyone that on Saturday, September 30th at Ellen Trout Zoo in Lufkin the Alzheimer’s Association is putting on the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s event. This event is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease! So either start a team of your own or join someone else’s. This is a fight worth fighting for!
Together, we can show those facing Alzheimer’s disease that they are not alone. Let us fight as one to find a cure for this terrible disease.
ARTICLE FROM PAGE 5A