Connecting for a Cause

This is where it gets personal.

I really have a thing for traveling. I like reading about it, writing about it, dreaming about it, and most of all, actually doing it. I’ve let my passion for it guide many big life decisions, from leaving my hometown in Maryland to go to college in Boston, to then moving to London for a few years after I finished school.

The EAC Memory Walk in Belgium

Along the way, I have had the great fortune of getting to know such a wide variety of wonderful people. When I first moved to London, I decided to connect with the European Alumnae Chapter (EAC) of Sigma Kappa. Not sure what to expect, I was amazed by the group of women I met over the next few years. I feel like I have a lot of kindred spirits in the group- women who not only share the sisterhood bond of being Sigma Kappas, but also a love of travel, exploring other cultures, and being up for whatever adventure comes our way. The bond inspires me to try to stay involved as best I can since moving back to the U.S., and I am really excited for the chapter’s next big project.

The EAC is participating in the Alzheimer’s Association’s newest fundraiser, The Longest Day. On June 20, 2012 (the longest day of the year), sisters from across Europe and the U.S. will join together to each participate in multiple hours of physical endurance activities to come together in a relay-type event that spans as much of the day as possible across many time zones. For my part in the Central time zone, I hope to traverse as much of the shoreline of Lake Michigan as I can on foot over 4 hours. Others may be biking, running, swimming, or engaged in some other activity as their part of the day.

My grandmother, Alice

While we certainly learn about Alzheimer’s and the work of the Alzheimer’s Association during our time as collegiate Sigma Kappas, after I graduated this specific philanthropy took on a whole new meaning. There are 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, and my grandmother was sadly part of that statistic for several years before she passed away in 2008. I also currently work with people with Alzheimer’s, and have seen firsthand the physical, mental, emotional and fiscal toll it takes on people and their families.

And I know I’m not the only one. So many of us have been directly touched by Alzheimer’s in one way or another. Last month, fellow EAC sister and guest LSK blogger, Teri, wrote a great piece about her experience with the disease that I highly recommend reading if you have not yet.

One of the truly tragic things about this disease is the fact there is currently no known way of curing  or preventing it. With rates of Alzheimer’s only rising, the importance of funding for research and services to help those living with this awful disease cannot be ignored.

So please spread the word about the EAC’s team for The Longest Day, and consider making a contribution to this cause that truly impacts us all. The team website can be found here.

For more information, take a look at the Alzheimer’s Association website and these facts and figures.