I keep seeing the digital billboards in our area advertising for the Alzheimer’s Association. I think the (hard-to-read) image is on the giant screen for 5 seconds at best. For as much as I LOVE that we are finally seeing those, it upsets me that so much money is having to be spent on ADVERTISING about Alzheimer’s Disease when that money could be funding research or programs to help those affected and their loved ones.
In late February of 2017, Mitzi and I went to the local chapter of the Alz Association and bought as many purple bracelets as they had (in fact, they even sent some up from their Orlando office because we wanted even more). We gave them out at our Women’s Retreat and at my church when Mitzi’s story was featured in the message one Sunday. I had another friend who made us these awesome purple ribbon earrings, and I wear them almost every day. People ask ALL the time what they’re for and what the bracelet symbolizes. The thoughtful conversations that have ensued as a result of us sporting our purple paraphernalia have been wonderful. Mitzi and I have a cool t-shirt idea that we’ll get off the ground soon (stay tuned!) and I’ve managed to find a pair of electric purple Converse sneakers in my enormous shoe size that are sure to turn a few heads.
I know these grassroots gestures pale in comparison to the giant digital billboard movement, but the more awareness that is out there, the more the world starts paying attention to this fatal disease that puts every single person with a brain at risk and is the 6th leading cause of death in the US (claiming more lives annually than prostate *AND* breast cancer COMBINED).
