In 2018, I ran the NYC Marathon and wrote on my fundraising page that I was running in honor of my mom, Jacki, who had been diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's at 51 years old. The following April, I shared my story at the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Memories Matter gala and I had no idea how that decision would change my life.

At the time I was 26 years old and had been taking care of my mom for about four years. I was struggling to balance all of the responsibilities of a caregiver, my career, a new relationship, and I was struggling to accept the role reversal that was thrust upon me. But most of all I was scared. I was scared that what was happening to my mom- the confusion, loss of basic life skills, inability to eat, bathe, and speak - would happen to me when I turned 51. While writing my Memories Matter speech in 2019, I remember thinking "how will I manage losing my agency in my 50s?" I have so many dreams and aspirations and I was scared I wouldn’t have enough time to make them a reality. I was searching for hope and when I found the ADDF, or rather when the ADDF found me, a tiny bit of hope emerged.

So what’s changed since that day five years ago? A lot. Both in my life and in the field of Alzheimer’s research. My mom passed away in 2021. I got a masters degree, started a new job, and got married. Of course I’m sad for all the time I lost with my mom and that she’s not here for the big moments. I’m also grateful for the time we had together - so much of it filled with smiles and laughter. 

And while these milestones have been challenging and rewarding, the biggest change for me is that I don’t feel scared and hopeless anymore. At 31 that tiny bit of hope has turned into an illuminating optimism about my future and my future children and grandchildren's futures'. There is a beautiful community of young people supporting each other and raising money and awareness for Alzheimer’s research. There have been many meaningful advances in Alzeimer’s science that I get to read about often in the ADDF newsletter and learn about during our Young Professional Committee meetings. I’ve been fortunate enough to be welcomed and nurtured over the last five years by the ADDF and I am hopeful and inspired beyond measure.

I owe so much to the ADDF. The ADDF took me and my family in when we needed them most- inviting me to share my story and helping us find an incredible caregiver for my mom (Bernie, I am still not sure what we would have done without you).

And now, I feel like I owe my peace of mind to the ADDF and the incredible researchers they support. I’ve never felt more confident that we’re on the cusp of something great in the Alzheimer’s research world. I’m not scared that the symptoms of Alzheimer’s might strike me in 20 years. I feel hopeful knowing that there will be diagnostics and therapeutics to help me that my mom never had. I want to do everything I can to help make that a reality. While there is still so much work to do, I have hope because of the progress that I’ve witnessed over the last few years.

Please support me as I run my fifth NYC Marathon this November to honor my mom, Jacki, and raise money for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation. Thank you :)