December 20, 2018

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Every day at the Miami Valley Alzheimer's Association, we give hope.

Through education and support, we teach life-changing skills to caregivers to improve how they love and care for their family member with this disease. For those with Alzheimer's or dementia, we provide the tools to transform a diagnosis of defeat to a desire to live their best life possible.

One of our volunteers, Sally Blommel, said it best. When a diagnosis of Alzheimer's impacts your family, the Alzheimer's Association provides "hope and love." (view Sally's hope and love video here.)

Our mission is simple yet profound. Find a cure through research and provide enhanced support for families impacted by Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Your support of the Alzheimer's Association is essential to our mission. Through your growing participation in our Walks to End Alzheimer's, the Association has been able to increase the amount of money it invests in private global research. This year's investment is the largest amount yet, and the momentum pushing us toward finding a cure is stronger than ever.

At the 2018 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), lots of focus was on findings from a clinical trial that demonstrated that the aggressive treatment of high blood pressure can produce significant reduction in the risk of developing dementia. To learn more about our efforts to stop, slow and ultimately prevent Alzheimer's disease, go to:
 
The Miami Valley Chapter is committed to expanding reach and services in our nine-county region through the help of our volunteers. Last year, volunteers donated more than 2,500 hours to help us provide some services.

The need is still great. There are 30,000 diagnosed individuals in the Miami Valley and 90,000 caregivers. We must engage our communities more to grow our impact.

Below are some of this year's highlights. As we look toward 2019, I believe we are poised for even greater successes.
 

Care and Support 
This year, our Chapter had 9,000 engagements with local families, which represented a 15 percent increase over last year. 
   
Community Engagement 
More than 4,500 people participated in our 2018 Walks to End Alzheimer's, raising over $750,000 for the fight. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the second highest non-profit fundraising event in the Miami Valley.
 
Research Funding 
This year, Congress approved a $425 million increase in Alzheimer's and Dementia research funding that pushed total NIH funding for Alzheimer's research to $2.3 billion annually, which is a record high. Passage of the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act will improve how the nation responds to this public health threat. Today, close to 5,000 Miami Valley residents help us urge legislators to support Alzheimer's legislation. Because of your advocacy, 2018 marked tremendous gains.

Thank you for your support of our mission. Happy Holidays and remember that together we can make a difference.

 




Eric VanVlymen
Region 10 Director
Executive Director Miami Valley Chapter