Alzheimer's Awareness

Every 70 seconds someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s currently affects over 5 million people in the U.S. alone. 13% of Americans age 65 and over have the disease and nearly half of people age 85 and over. By the year 2050, these numbers could triple.

My grandmother, Mary Fran, has Alzheimer's disease, and my whole life I have seen the toll it has taken on not only her but my family. It started with her forgetting things like my age and name. Now her case has progressed to the point where she has lost her mobility and ability to swallow and talk. My grandma was involved with numerous charities and organizations which impacted the community greatly. She is such an accomplished woman, but she doesn't remember any of her successes.

This is why I have made it my goal to help her and all the other Alzheimer's patients who can't speak for themselves. I started spreading awareness by doing speeches and reports at my school, and two years ago I participated in my first "Memory Walk" in Los Angeles. Every year, the Alzheimer's Association puts on a Memory Walk to raise money for Alzheimer's research. It was amazing to see there were so many other people, just like me, who wanted to help the cause. I have volunteered at senior centers and performed & volunteered at Alzheimer's Awareness based organizations. This spring, I sang with a variety of celebrities at the Night at Sardi's Alzheimer's benefit directed by Seinfeld's Jason Alexander. The theme was Bye, Bye, Birdie and I was in "The Telephone Hour Song". I was excited beyond words that all these actors and singers, like Dick van Dyke & Vanessa Williams, used their celebrity to benefit such an important cause and helped to make the night successful (over 1 million dollars was raised). I also sang at the 2nd annual Circle of Care Leeza's Place party. Leeza's Place is a wonderful organization founded by Leeza Gibbons to help caregivers and patients affected by Alzheimer's. Over the last few months, I have been filming my own mini-documentary as part of the 4-part series on Alzheimer's disease with HBO. It was one of the most influential experiences of my life. At first, an interview they did of me was going to be used in the segment. But then, the producers called asking about me doing the mini-documentary. I first interviewed some of my grandmother's friends about her life and their experiences with her. After I visited all the places in which she volunteered at, and finally I visited her at the rehabilitation center in which she has had to live since her condition has progressed. I was shocked at how much she had changed in just a couple of months.  She could hardly walk a couple of feet, and her vocabulary was gone.  It was heartbreaking and truly touched my heart. I learned so much about my grandmother over those few days, and it really opened my eyes to how much this disease has changed her. 

I hope that throughout my life, my efforts will raise people's respect and awareness for Alzheimer's disease. I hope even more than a cure and prevention will be found. All of us need to try to do our part to help, so Alzheimer's disease can be a thing of the past.

 
-Alissa 2-20-08
                                                                                                                  

Appearances for Alzheimer's Awareness (in addition to over 120 hours volunteered a year in National Charity League, and at least another 100 hours a year for various other charities and benefits)

walked at Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's 2011

will be featured on nationally-syndicated TV Show Young Icons 2011

Featured in article "Teens Can Play valuable Role in Caring for Loved Ones with Dementia" in Grand Rapids Press May 2011

Guest speaker at 2nd Heart and Spirit of Caregiving Conference: Michigan May 2011

Danville Patch's Whiz Kid March 2011

Featured in Alzheimer's in America, The Shriver Report on Women and Alzheimer's April 2011

Guest speaker at the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Illinois Family Forum April 2011

Sang at Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk: Coachella Valley 2011

Guest on New York Radio Station WRHU 2010

Spoken about on National Public Radio 2010

Christmas caroled for Alzheimer's patients at nursing home with Alzheimer's Awareness Club 2010

Decorated Alzheimer's Association Rose Parade Float 2010

Featured in AOL Health article about Alissa and Alzheimer's on homepage of AOL 2010

Featured in The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation Takes on Alzheimer's 2010

Speaker and co-chair at The Women's Conference: Maria Shriver's March on Alzheimer's 2010

Performed at the Silicon Valley Memory Walk 2010

Performed at the remembrance ceremony at the San Francisco Memory Walk 2010

Started Monte Vista's Alzheimer's Awareness Club 2010

Started Alz 4 Kidz group on Facebook 2010

Organized the FIJIs Across America kick off event 2010

Spoke to state assemblymen at the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Day 2010

Featured in Emmy-award winning HBO documentary The Alzheimer's Project  2009

Performed & volunteered at the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk in San Francisco 2009

Performed & walked the red carpet at the Alzheimer's Association Night at Sardi's benefit which raised $1 million for Alzheimer's 2008

Walked in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk 2007, 2008, 2009

Performed at Leeza's Place: 2nd Anniversary Party 2008

A volunteer at the Pasadena Senior Center 2006-2009

Volunteered at Los Angeles County/USC Hospital 2007, 2008, 2009

Caroled at Los Angeles County/USC Hospital 2007, 2008

Performed at Culver City Senior Center Thanksgiving Dinner 2008

Served dinner at Pasadena Senior Center Thanksgiving Dinner 2007

Alzheimer's Association registered advocate

Wrote to U.S. & state congress telling them the importance of Alzheimer's Research

Read reports about Alzheimer's to students at Foothills Middle School