Why I Walk to Fight Alzheimer’s Disease: Matt Siebert

I started participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s to honor my grandma. She had the disease for 10 years before passing away in 2009. I saw what she endured and what it did to those around her.

Before Alzheimer’s, she had an incredible amount of energy. She talked a mile a minute to anyone at any time. As the disease progressed, I watched her fade into the background, losing her ability to participate in family gatherings or normal conversations.

I also saw the impact that it had on my aunt, who was her primary caregiver.

Taking care of my grandma was an enormous responsibility, made especially difficult by the fact that my aunt needed to work to support herself. The constant worry about whether my grandma was OK, and the unrelenting need to be there to make sure my grandma was safe and had what she required to live as normal a life as possible, created a tremendous amount of pressure on my aunt.

My aunt’s love for her mom made it possible to do the things she did, but that didn’t remove the difficulty of dealing with the situation she was thrust into each and every day.

Following that experience, I wanted to get involved and help make a difference. I volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association and I started a Walk team. I actively raised money and awareness to help support caregivers like my aunt.

More importantly, I helped generate funds for research to find preventions, treatments, and eventually a cure.

Unfortunately, relief from Alzheimer’s has not come quickly enough. A few years ago, after I had been involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s for some time, my dad was diagnosed with the disease. My family and I had suspected it for a while, but getting confirmation hit us incredibly hard.

We are now being forced to relive this devastating experience. While my dad is still able to be a part of everything (and always will), my family clearly sees the effects of the disease’s progression.

My mom is now the primary caregiver, and she has been great in both providing support and making life as normal as possible for my dad. But we all know where this is going and how hard it is going to get.

There are an estimated 6.5 million people nationwide and over 11 million unpaid caregivers impacted by Alzheimer’s. I am encouraged by all the current national and global research on the disease. Funding from the government has increased exponentially over the past decade, and there are glimmers of hope in a number of different areas.

However, we cannot escape the reality that we do not have any meaningful relief for those affected.

Until that relief comes, I will continue to walk and be a part of finding a cure. I encourage you to do the same.

This year’s Cleveland Walk to End Alzheimer’s is Sunday, October 2 at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Please click here or on the button below to view the event details, register to walk, volunteer or donate to the cause. Thank you.