Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health
Son Honoring Mother by Climbing 7 Summits, Raising
$1 Million to Fight Alzheimer’s
Climbing tallest mountains on seven continents –
donating to Alzheimer’s Association, Cure Alzheimer's Fund, National
Family Caregivers Association
May 10, 2011 - Alan Arnette is
today trudging a precarious trail up Mr. Everest, the world’s tallest
mountain, as part of his quest to raise a million dollars to fight
Alzheimer’s disease by climbing to the peaks of the 7 Summits – the
highest mountains on each continent. The “7 Summits Climb for
Alzheimer's: Memories are Everything” campaign was established by
Arnette to honor his mother.
Everest, the most challenging
climb of the seven, is Alan's third climb of the 7 summits, after he
successfully topped Vinson Massif in Antarctica and Aconcagua in
Argentina. Alan is attempting to reach the peaks of all 7 summits in one
year, and if successful, will join just a small group of climbers who
have accomplished this major feat.
He will face challenges
climbing Everest, including altitude sickness, hidden crevasses and the
Khumbu Icefall - a slow moving river of unsteady ice with falling ice
towers.
Alan's inspiration for his
challenging climbs is his mother, Ida Arnette, whom he cared for as she
suffered from Alzheimer's, a devastating disease for which there's no
cure, and ultimately passed away in 2009.
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Alzheimer's, Dementia & Mental Health |
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He wants to raise awareness of
the enormous financial and personal burden Alzheimer's places on people
with the disease, their family caregivers and society, as well as raise
$1 million for the Alzheimer's community.
The funds he raises will go
directly to three leading nonprofit organizations: the Alzheimer's
Association, the Cure Alzheimer's Fund and the National Family
Caregivers Association (NFCA).
The Alzheimer's Association,
the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care,
support and research, was just added as a new beneficiary, according to
an announcement by Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, together with its
collaborator on the Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program, Pfizer Inc.
The Alzheimer's Immunotherapy
Program of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc. are funding
Alan's climbs so that all money he raises from donations will go
directly to the organizations he has selected.
"We wish Alan the best as he
attempts to climb the world's highest mountain for Alzheimer's disease,"
said Stef Heylen, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and
Development for Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, on behalf of the
Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program.
"We support his year-long
effort to call attention to Alzheimer's and the impact it has on
families, caregivers and society."
"The Alzheimer's Association
sincerely appreciates Alan's support and dedications in raising
awareness and supporting our efforts to create a world without
Alzheimer's," said Angela Geiger, Chief Strategy Officer of the
Alzheimer's Association.
Alan knows firsthand the
devastating impact Alzheimer's has on individuals and their loved ones
and represents a generation of baby boomers, too many of whom will spend
their retirement years with Alzheimer's or caring for someone who has
it.
"It is our hope that Alan's
dedication will inspire people to get involved by advocating, donating
and educating others about Alzheimer's disease."
Alzheimer's touches the lives
of millions of Americans, and according to the Alzheimer's Association,
5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and require that
nearly 15 million people to provide care and support.
Making a donation
You can follow Alan's progress
on Everest or make a donation to one of his chosen nonprofits by
visiting
www.Climb4AD.com or
www.Facebook.com/Climb4AD.
Alzheimer's Immunotherapy
Program
The Alzheimer's Immunotherapy
Program of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc. is an equal
collaboration committed to researching and developing selective products
for the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative conditions,
including Alzheimer's disease.
The Alzheimer's Immunotherapy
Program believes that it is possible to reduce the burden of disease
through early intervention in the illness. It is dedicated to delivering
comprehensive and integrated solutions that help address the needs of
people impacted by Alzheimer's disease.
Its research focuses on the
beta amyloid hypothesis. Scientific evidence supports the idea that
preventing the accumulation and/or promoting the removal of beta-amyloid
may have the potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease
and help preserve function in people with the disease. This theory is
being tested in clinical trials.
Janssen Alzheimer
Immunotherapy
Janssen Alzheimer
Immunotherapy is researching, developing and commercializing selective
products for the treatment and/or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy is based in Dublin and has R&D
facilities in South San Francisco.
Alzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association is
the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and
research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the
advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all
affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of
brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more
information, visit
www.alz.org.
National Family Caregivers
Association
National Family Caregivers
Association (NFCA) envisions an America in which family caregivers lead
full and productive lives, free from depression, pain, isolation, and
financial distress. NFCA provides family caregivers support, education,
and a public voice.
Cure Alzheimer's Fund
The Cure Alzheimer's Fund is a
non-profit public charity established to provide funding for targeted
research into the causes of Alzheimer's disease. The Cure Alzheimer's
Fund exists exclusively to fund targeted research to hasten the slowing,
stopping or reversing of Alzheimer's disease.
