Actors & Artists Unite To End Alzheimer's Hits Historic Goal- Over $265,000 Raised!

Actors and Artists Unite to end Alzheimer's- the first non-corporate National Friends and Family team of the Walk to end Alzheimer's for the Alzheimer's Association soared in 2018 as 48 teams walked nationwide to reach over $265,000 raised since 2011!

"We did it!" shared Nancy Daly, the Founder and National Team Captain of AA Unite. "It is truly phenomenal. We are grass roots- we built this team by word of mouth and social media- by the support of the leaders of the performing arts unions and by team members across the country rallying their friends and families. We built this team because local Alzheimer's Association chapters supported us as we reached out to their arts communities. We started with four teams in 2011. 48 teams walked across the country in 2018. To me- that portrays the determination, compassion and hard work of every member of this team and how so many millions of people are affected by Alzheimer's. We hear it every day- "I lost my mom . . . we are caring for my dad . . . we just had to put my grandmother into a care facility." We founded this team so that artists and their friends and families could come together to raise awareness and support each other.

We have teams across the country. They have never met me- they join us to walk in solidarity with their fellow artists. We have teams from the Pacific Northwest to Massachusetts; from Minnesota to Texas; from Buffalo, NY to Florida; Alabama; Connecticut; Mississippi; Michigan; Ohio; Indiana; Georgia- so many teams up and down the coast of California; Brooklyn, Queens, Buffalo and Manhattan of New York; Annapolis, MD and my hometown of Washington DC. We have had so many teams sail out of the gate in their first year. Encore Thespians in Columbus, GA kept reaching out after their walk and doubled their support in a few weeks. Connecting Within in Annapolis, MD hit their initial goal of $1000 in a month. They raised over $2600 by the end of their walk. I get emails from artists nationwide- "Do we have a team in Portland? Do we have a team in Louisville?" and I get to say- "We do now!"

I am in awe of these teams and so very grateful to the local Alzheimer's Association chapters, to artists around the country and anyone who has ever said- "There's this team- the actors' team. It's a national team of actors and artists- you should join them. All are welcome." I founded this team in honor of the now four women in my family who have died from Alzheimer's and as a promise to my dad who lost the love of his life, my mom.

A cure in our lifetime- for the white flower- the first survivor of Alzheimer's. It's why we walk.

http://www.alz.org/AAUnite