This will only be the second time in 39 years that I will celebrate Christmas without my grandfather.
With the exception of the one Christmas that we spent in Pennsylvania with my in-laws, I have always had Christmas dinner at my grandparents’ house.
As I wrote in my post right after he passed, my grandfather was a firm believer in the idea that the holidays were the time to celebrate and be with family. He carefully planned every dinner menu, turning the Christmas meal into a wonderful, multi-course delight for our extended family. And his Christmas blessings were so sincere with their raw emotion that they always brought tears to my eyes.
I’m not sure what the holidays will bring this year, other than that they will surely be…different.
And so I’ve decided I need to do something to honor his love of family and the holidays, his memory, and the remarkable man that he was — and to help in the fight against the disease that stole him from us.
That’s why I am proud to announce that I will be running my third Boston’s Run to Remember on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association on May 29, 2016.
This will be my 8th half marathon (or 9th, depending on how harsh this winter is), and a fitting tribute, since my grandfather was a former track star himself. (Check out my previous Run to Remember race recaps here and here).
All proceeds from the Run to Remember team go directly toward improving the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s, supporting caregivers, and funding critical research needed to find a cure to end this disease.
Having watched my grandmother care for my grandfather throughout his illness with such grace and compassion and patience, even as she was grieving and suffering herself, I’m especially thankful to see the focus on supporting caregivers as well.
Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050 — which means that if you haven’t been impacted by Alzheimer’s yet, there’s a good chance you will be.
Which I why I hope you will support me and the Alzheimer’s Association as I run in not just my grandfather’s memory, but in Dr. G’s grandfather’s memory, and for everyone else who has (or will be) affected by this awful disease. Please click here to view my fundraising page.
Thank you in advance for your generosity. Together, we can outrace Alzheimer’s disease.
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