PRIME TIME
Annual Dancing Stars Gala Supports Work Of Local Alzheimer’ s Group
By Barb Armijo
The 7th annual Dancing Stars Gala is billed as an evening of fine dining, dancing and rollicking fun to benefit the New Mexico chapter of the Alzheimer’ s Association. The event, April 22, also is one way the association raises awareness about the public health crisis it has created and about people and their families who struggle with the disease.
The Dancing Stars Gala even has a trophy at stake for local celebrities and dancers in celebration of those who support the Alzheimer mission of a world free of the disease.
More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’ s, and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’ s Association.
“ I love the Dancing Stars Gala because it’ s a fun way for family and professional caregivers, and the community in general, to participate in the fight against Alzheimer’ s disease,” said Nika Lawrie, development director of the Alzheimer’ s Association, NM Chapter.“ It’ s too often we are surrounded by hardship and sorrow. The gala provides a much-needed break from that.”
The local Alzheimer’ s Association serves families around the state through support groups, a statewide helpline, information kits, resource information, a speakers’ bureau, training workshops, education conferences, health fairs, quarterly newsletters, a respite assistance program and advocacy.
These services are supported primarily through private donations and special events such as the Dancing Stars Gala.
The first local Alzheimer’ s chapter was founded in 1981 in Albuquerque by Marian Knapp and other family caregivers facing the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’ s disease.
The newly organized Albuquerque Chapter in conjunction with seven other regional areas assisted in the creation of the National Alzheimer’ s Disease and Related Disorders Association. Today, the National
Alzheimer’ s Association, with chapters across America, is the leading global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’ s care and support and the largest private, non-profit funder of Alzheimer’ s research.
In 1996, the Albuquerque chapter expanded to include five southern counties and was renamed the New Mexico chapter. It operates five offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Farmington, and Roswell and employs 14 staff members. A membership of more than 14,000 families, caregivers, professionals and businesses receive its quarterly newsletter and support statewide efforts to serve caregivers and research at the national level.
“ It is impossible to be a part of the senior living industry and not see and feel the impact of Alzheimer’ s disease,” said Lee Ann Eaton, chief executive
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officer of Haverland Carter Lifestyle Group and a dancer in the gala contest.“ The body of work by the Alzheimer’ s Association is inspiring.”
Other dance competitors include Lea Harrison of Haven Behavioral Health, Chris Schroeder of Real Time Solutions, Jeff Morehouse of DaVita Medical Group( formerly ABQ Health Partners) and local businesswoman Angela Serna.
The dancers will be collecting pledges throughout March to support the cause. To make a pledge, visit www. alz. org / newmexico. The State of New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Department also supports the New Mexico Alzheimer’ s Association’ s programs.
Date: April 22 Time: 5 p. m.- midnight Location: Sandia Resort & Casino Tickets: $ 160 per plate, $ 1,500 per table of 10 Contact: http:// www. alz. org / newmexico /
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