“After a natural disaster, families are devastated by the loss of their personal belongings, especially pictures, which are the imprinted memories of our lives.  Imagine for a moment that someone has stolen all of your pictures, taken away everything familiar to you and that you have been told that you will never be able to create new memories.  Everyone you know will simply disappear from your life.  The disease of Alzheimer’s IS this natural disaster.” – Author unknown

I would like to share with you a few facts about Alzheimer’s.

-Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior and interferes with the patient’s daily life.

-Alzheimer’s is NOT a normal part of aging and is NOT just a disease of old age.  Five percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s, which can appear when someone is in their forties or fifties.

-Alzheimer’s worsens over time and the symptoms gradually get worse over a number of years.

– Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but the survival can range from four to twenty years, depending on age and other health conditions.

-Alzheimer’s has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues.  There are NO survivors of Alzheimer’s disease.

All around the country, fundraising efforts are being held with the Walk to End Alzheimer’s campaign.  There are walks planned in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Monroe and Jackson.

Since there is no walk planned here in Natchez, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, we will walk to simply raise awareness of this disease that is the 6th-leading cause of death in the United States.  There is no money involved, no registration fee and no donations will be taken.  Participants will gather at 10 a.m. at the gazebo on the bluff, proceed on a walk through downtown and return to the gazebo, where we will release purple balloons in honor of all affected by Alzheimer’s.

We invite one and all to join us as we walk around our beautiful city. If you desire to make a donation, you may do so online at www.alz.org.

I am proud and honored to join compassionate and caring members of the staff from Magnolia Village for this walk, who provided excellent care for my mother during her battle with this disease, which she lost in 2012. Remember, there are NO survivors of Alzheimer’s.

Please join me in my effort to help the Alzheimer’s Association realize their mission and vision, that one day soon we will live in a world free of this disease.

Teresa Risher Burns is the organizer of the Natchez Alzheimer’s Memory Walk.