I am excited to be kicking off The Women's Conference 2010 with a 5K March on Alzheimer's and candlelight vigil on Sunday afternoon, October 24 along the beautiful waterfront in Downtown Long Beach, CA.
Alzheimer's is truly a "mind-blowing" disease. I know this from personal experience because my father, Sargent Shriver, was diagnosed with it in 2003.
Alzheimer's blows the mind of our loved ones who have it...and it blows the minds of everyone trying to care for them, old and young alike. In this way, Alzheimer's really spares no one, and so it's time we stop thinking of it as an "old person's disease." All of us have a stake in finding a cure for Alzheimer's.
More than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer's in the United States, and someone new develops the disease every 70 seconds. These statistics are staggering. And unless we discover a cure, they will only get much worse.
People often refer to Alzheimer's as a quiet epidemic. So, I say: let's make noise! It's time to start marching to defeat this devastating disease.
We are inviting 5,000 women and men of all ages to join us in Long Beach to raise much needed attention of the disease and funds to support the incredibly important work of the Alzheimer's Association.
If you are in the area, please join us! If you have family, friends or colleagues who may be interested, please spread the word. Click here to learn more and sign up to march with us.
We will be joined by Leeza Gibbons, Rob Lowe, Peter Gallagher, Natalie Maines, Soleil Moon Frye, Jane Fonda, Jake Steinfeld, and many others who are coming out to show their support.
Right now, we are also offering an added incentive for participants to register today and begin their fundraising efforts. We are giving away two free Loge tickets to the sold-out Women's Conference 2010 Main Event in Long Beach on Tuesday, October 26 to a randomly selected marcher who signs up by August 15. You will be automatically entered into the giveaway when you register.
I look forward to hearing from you...and marching with you on October 24!