On November 24, 2010, Alan Arnette will start his journey to climb the seven peaks around the world in one year to raise awareness for Alzheimer's disease. In August 2009, Arnette lost his mother, Ida Arnette, to Alzheimer's disease. Arnette hopes to climb Mt. Vinson Massif, Mt. Aconcagua, Mt. Everest, Mt. Denali, Mt. Elbrus, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Carstensz Pyramid by December 2011, and is also taking on an eighth challenge, Mt. Kosciuszko, for his campaign, The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer's: Memories Are Everything. With support from the Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program of Janessen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc., Arnette will be raising money with this climb to go to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. Arnette shared with EmpowHer his experience as his mother's caregiver, his fundraising and awareness efforts for Alzheimer's disease, and his advice to other children caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease.
You were your mother's caregiver. What did that experience teach you about Alzheimer's disease and how has that shaped your advocacy for Alzheimer's disease awareness?
I was able to retire early from my job as a technology executive to care for my mom, Ida, during the last three years of her life. I cherish the fact that I got to be near my mom during her final days. Just like millions of other people caring for loved ones with the disease, I struggled to deal with the emotional, physical and financial tolls of this disease with no cure.
As I learned more about Alzheimer’s disease and saw my mother struggle with the disease, I felt like I had to do something to help future generations. Alzheimer’s affects more than 25 million people worldwide and this number is projected to quadruple to more than 100 million people in 2050. This drove me to set a huge goal for myself — to climb the seven Summits, the highest peak on each continent. Through a year-long effort — The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything — I hope to show how the mental and physical challenges of scaling peaks are similar to the trials faced by people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. That means understanding personal limitations, reaching out for support and taking steps day by day. I also hope to inspire people to join my effort to help raise $1 million to advance Alzheimer’s research.
What advice could you give to sons and daughters out there who are caring for their parents with Alzheimer's disease?
The most important thing is to take care of yourself because you can’t take care of anyone else if you’re not okay yourself. Also, know your limitations. It’s important to know what you can’t do even if you’d like to do it. Remember that Alzheimer’s is a slow disease so you need to find a coping mechanism because it’s a long journey. There are a ton of resources for caregivers — reach out to them. Reach out to friends and family for support. Finally, consult the best people you can and make the most informed decision possible; be an active part of the decision-making process.
All the money that you are raising with The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer's: Memories are Everything is going to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund. How did you decide on this organization?
I’ve been working with the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund since 2007. One reason I selected this organization is that one hundred percent of all funds donated to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund goes to research. I hope that by raising awareness and funds for research, future generations will not have to struggle with the disease as my family did. There is progress being made and a lot of research going on, but we don’t know much about Alzheimer’s disease — we need to do more. We need to find a cure.
When you were your mother's caretaker, how did you cope? Are there organizations that you recommend for caretakers when they need a break?
I turned to a strong support network in my family and friends, but like many family caregivers, I struggled to deal with the toll of this disease. When I needed information, I would look for information on the Alzheimer’s Association website. There are a ton of resources for caregivers and I encourage people to reach out to them and get the support they need.
You can follow Arnette's progress and make a donation to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund at Climb4AD.com or follow him on Facebook at Facebook.com/Climb4AD.