Home > Winter 09-2010 Newsletter |
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
T his is no joke.
A guy – your basic NYC mogul -- gets into an elevator with me and says “So, you work for
the Alzheimer’s Association? When are you guys gonna find a cure?”
I say “Are you kidding me? When are we going to find a cure? When are you going to step
up and help us?”
This really happened. Sadly, it points to a stark reality: some folks have the impression that
the Alzheimer’s Association can do it alone. The NYC Chapter knows that if we want to win
the battle against AD, each of us has to step up. Each and every one of us has to ensure that we
have the resources to get the job done.
We can look to other groups as good examples. Every October, the world is painted pink
for breast cancer awareness. This did not happen by accident. Led by passionate volunteers
committed to the cause who wear their pink ribbons proudly, survivors and family members
raise hundreds of millions of dollars. Last year alone, the Susan G. Komen Foundation raised
$111 million for breast cancer research.
Similarly, we all know that a red lapel ribbon signifies support of HIV/Aids. Volunteer
leaders in this community have, in a remarkably short period of time, achieved what was once
thought impossible: AIDS is starting to look like a chronic disease that people can live with and
manage.
Great achievements!
So why, when more Americans are affected by Alzheimer’s than by breast cancer and AIDS
combined, does our cause raise only a fraction of their contributions? What are their volunteers
doing that we have yet to achieve?
Our community is no different from those who work to cure breast cancer or HIV/AIDS.
We are every bit as smart and just as committed. And while it’s true that people with dementia
cannot advocate for themselves, this cannot be our excuse. It’s all the more reason for us to work
even harder to give them voice.
We have the power to accomplish what AIDS and breast cancer advocates have achieved. We
just have to figure out how to use it. As a starter, check out the back of this issue where there
is a menu of volunteer opportunities. Every one will advance our work. Please, please consider
all of these and, this year, commit to at least one. We ask you to step up your commitment to
advancing our cause.
The next time someone asks you when there will be a cure for Alzheimer’s, ask them what
they are doing to make this happen!
— Lou-Ellen Barkan
President & CEO
|
|
Previous
