Each year, Asia Saffold and The Balanced Mom “TBM A Walk to Remember” team support the Alzheimer’s Association and its annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year, Asia also has the honor of serving on the California Southland chapter’s planning committee for the Los Angeles Walk, which is the largest of its kind in the country! Each month, she volunteers hours of her time attending committee meetings, planning/attending events, and helping to spread awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease Quick Facts:
- More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease.
- ALZ is the sixth leading cause of death in America.
- Almost two-thirds of people with Alzheimer’s disease are women.
- African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias than older whites.
- Hispanics are about one and a half times as likely to have Alzheimer’s or other dementias as older whites.
Asia and Rodger Saffold showing their support at the New Team Kickoff event. Rodger donated 4 Rams game tickets, a signed helmet, and a personal donation of $1000 to “The Balanced Mom Walk to Remember” team !
Asia Saffold, founder of The Balanced Mom, elaborates on who she walks for and why she thinks it’s important to support this cause:
“The reason I initially chose to support the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s was to honor my late great-grandmother, Gaga, and for a family member also affected by the disease. I’ve seen up close what devastation this disease can cause in families, and I now want to support not only my family but also the millions of families around the world so that together, we can once and for all end ALZ. It’s my dream to play a role in helping people hold on to their memories, our most cherished possessions of our hearts.”
This disease hits home for a lot of people, and it’s surprising how taboo Alzheimer’s really is. A lot of people don’t like to talk about it and shrug it off as a “normal part of aging,” but it is not. There will be a cure. It’s just a matter of gaining the support and resources to conduct the research! A lot of people, once they see this disease up close or learn more about it, want to know how they can help. Here’s how:
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Held annually in multiple cities across America each year, The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the largest event to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. The California Southland Chapter hosts the largest walk in the country! The #walktoendalz is an event that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and it is a perfect family outing to support a great cause. There’s music, refreshments, special guests, and an inspiring flower ceremony, and best of all, it’s free! We want to encourage all of our readers, both local and not, to come out this year on Sunday, November 5th at La Live and join us for the #walktoendalz. Check out this video of Captain Asia Saffold and her team, TBM A Walk to Remember, last year at the walk!
Donate to The Balanced Mom “A Walk to Remember” Team
If you can’t physically come walk with us in November, you can still be there in spirit by joining the team or making a donation of any amount to The Balanced Mom “A Walk to Remember” Team. Any amount of participation helps to support the cause and brings us a little close to finally finding a cure! This year, Asia set her team’s fundraising goal at $5,000. Help us reach this goal by donating to the team here! Money raised for the Alzheimer’s Association goes toward care for people living with the disease, their caregivers, and research to find a cure!
Fundraise for a Cure
This year, Asia and her fellow committee members of the Alzheimer’s Association hosted a New Team Kickoff event at the City Club in Los Angeles. We were able to raise $3000 for Asia’s team alone! It’s easy for anyone who is passionate about finding a cure to have a fundraiser. It can be as simple as getting your family, friends, and coworkers together for a mixer, a silent auction, or a charity night at a local restaurant! Check out the recap video from the event below!
Advocate/Spread Awareness
You’d be surprised how effective just talking about Alzheimer’s and dementia is. In America, it seems to be such a taboo topic that many people hesitate to talk about. But when you find yourself in the conversation, you’d be surprised about just how many people can relate to it or have a family member living with the disease. People are under the impression that Alzheimer’s and dementia is a normal part of aging, which is not true. It is a serious disease, and it can be devastating and traumatic as the disease progresses into its final stages. No one should have to go through this as the patient or the caregiver. People are also under the impression that it can’t happen to them when the reality is that 1 in 3 seniors die with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It disproportionately affects women and minorities. We must find a cure, and we must educate ourselves! Different ways you can easily help to advocate for and spread awareness of Alzheimer’s:
- Use your social media (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and other online platforms to share your story and encourage your network to get involved.
- Wear your Purple! Purple is the official color of the Alzheimer’s movement, and June is the official month for Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness. You can get your purple ALZ gear by shopping, here!
Support ALZ Legislation
One of the most effective ways to support the cause and create substantial change is to support legislation that holds the government more responsible for ensuring families with Alzheimer’s are not forgotten. We want the government to push policies in favor of researching for a cure and supporting the affected people and their caregivers. You can find out more about those policies and how to support them by visiting the Federal Priorities page of the official ALZ Association website!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. We are so passionate about this cause and really hope to see a cure within our lifetime. Each year, Asia pledges to support the Alzheimer’s Association and its efforts. This disease is very difficult for families to live with, and no one can imagine this pain until they are confronted with it themselves. Let’s help more people to preserve their memories. After all, they are our most treasured possessions of our hearts.
With Love,
“Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, and the things you never want to lose.” – The Wonder Years
