Several years ago my father, age 80 at the time, had a tough battle with pnuemonia and almost died. While this was happening he was suffering from some form of vascular issue and did not receive enough oxygen- that was either during the illness or on-going. We don't know. What we do know almost 5 years later is my father has vascular dementia and he has a few good days but mostly bad ones where he is in his own world. My mother and father live with a full time trained care giver, although last year he wandered off but thankfully was only a few houses away.

I am his grown son, 56. My whole life I have had a hard time with my father; however, back in 2006 after working with a tranformational life coach, my father and I became friends. I am thankful for that but now during COVID where I cannot risk air travel, and even if i did, I cannot see my dad and risk getting him sick with this. So I have many active hobbies but lately have been doing a lot of paddling in my touring kayak. One day while out on the lake I thought it might be helpful for the group raising money for research as well as my own emotional health if I did a mileage based fund raiser. I cannot describe how helpless I feel at times when I cannot even speak to my father and his care giver has a hard time relaying even the simplest of concepts. I want to do a mileage based fund raiser with a goal of 100 miles by Christmas. Now I bike and do other things however 100 miles on the lake will take me several weeks seeing my average "run" is about 5 miles. I paddle for speed and exercise rather than a long leasurely day event. 

100% of money raised goes to The Alzheimer Foundation. I am responsible for the cost of transportation to and from my paddling events along with the cost of any gear, or park or user fees. Again, all money that is donated will be passed through.

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