2010

Memory Walk 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

As many of you already know, my wife, Irene, had been diagnosed with dementia, the most common form of which is Alzheimer’s, in December 2002. As expected with this condition, there continues to be some deterioration, and this has been quite noticeable the past year. Nevertheless, we try to continue doing as best we can, given the situation, and we have been able to do our usual amount of traveling and socializing with friends and relatives and participating in Sid’s bus and rail groups, as much as we can (especially ERA). We have also introduced respite care into the equation.

The Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association holds Memory Walks during the month of October to raise money to help provide support and assistance to New Jersey individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their families. This is part of the national Memory Walk, the nation’s number one fund-raiser to help those battling Alzheimer’s. As we have in recent years, Irene and I are planning to participate in the Northern Regional Memory Walk on Sunday, October 24, 2010, in Paramus, N.J. For the first time, it is doubtful that Irene will be able to endure the entire Walk on foot, but we will have her go as far as possible. We are planning to walk the approximately three mile route that morning and ask you to sponsor us in the Walk by making a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association. Please help us by contributing $5, $10, or whatever lesser or greater amount you may desire. We’d like to receive your check, made payable to “Alzheimer’s Association,” by mail on or before October 18th. Alternatively, you may give it to us at the upcoming September 24th Division Meeting or on the October 16th PATH trip. If you will be using mail, please mail your check to:

You also have the option of making your supporting contribution online at www.alznj.org. Click on “Memory Walk 2010” in the list in the left margin and then hit the “donate” link to get to the Memory Walk 2010 home page. Once there, enter “Irene Keyles” as Participant’s Name and click “Search”. When “Irene Keyles” appears, proceed by clicking on her name, after which you can make an online or offline donation in Irene’s name, which will be credited to Irene’s Team. If you do not want to be a sponsor, that will, of course, be OK. We welcome your moral support.

We have been pleased to have many friends and relatives walk with us in past years and really would like to encourage more of you to walk with us this year on October 24th. We have, again, registered “Irene’s Team” for that purpose. If you are interested in walking with us that morning, please let us know.

We hope we can count on you as a sponsor (and, perhaps, a walker). Thank you. — Sid

• Memory Walk 2010