Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, D.C.
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“Our theme this evening is the impact that Alzheimer’s disease has on family – witnessing the agonizingly slow-motion loss, the illness’s long duration, the denial that leads to late diagnosis and treatment, and the utter helplessness so often felt by relatives and friends. Many of us here tonight know |
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first hand about the devastating affects of Alzheimer’s because we live them day in and day out, or we have lived them, or we’re watching them unfold in the families that are close to us.” – David Hyde Pierce | ||
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“I became involved with the National Alzheimer’s Gala last year as the emcee. I’m back this year because I want to stay involved by speaking out for Alzheimer’s victims who cannot speak for themselves. It’s about people and their families and what has been taken away from them. We are their voice and their hope . . . and I’m proud to be part of this effort.” – Chris Matthews | |
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“We are racing against time. The demographics are not in our favor. As more and more people age and live longer . . . more and more people will face Alzheimer’s. When we do finally get to prevention and cure, much of the credit will be due to all of you and the Alzheimer's |
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| Association, which put this disease on the map long before many people were even paying attention to it or talking about it. And I want to be here for that great celebration when we stand up and say: “We did it!” – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton | ||
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“Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease. It takes a tremendous personal toll on both the family and the individual. As someone whose family has experienced the pain of Alzheimer’s, I know that there is no more helpless feeling than to watch the progression of this dreadful | |
| disease. It is an agonizing experience to look into the eyes of a loved one, only to receive a confused look in return.” – Senator Susan Collins | ||
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"For better or worse, movies and television mirror what is going on in our minds and in our lives – and are just an extraordinary power in letting people know about what’s in our hearts. You’ve probably noticed an increasing number of characters with Alzheimer’s |
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| in the storylines on the big and small screens. There are a growing number of lives that Alzheimer’s are touching, particularly the family members of those who are on the productions teams of these shows.” – Dan Glickman | ||
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“Like so many of you in this room, we know all too well about this disease. There is no easy way for loved ones to adjust to a family member having Alzheimer’s. The caregivers suffer so much. They are the ones who are on the front line, they are the | |
| ones who are reminded daily of the relentless march of this disease.” – Mark Shriver | ||
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"Before you’re a caregiver, you have compassion. But if you’ve been a caregiver, you have passion. And passion is that intense emotion that compels action. When Barbara was diagnosed, I was determined that Alzheimer’s was not going to destroy our love of life. |
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| As a family, we were determined that we were not going to make it the worst of times, we were going to make it the best of times.” – Coach Frank Broyles | ||
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"When I began working in the field over 25 years ago, I never dreamed in my lifetime there would be any treatments for the disease. Today, there are four treatments on the market that patients all around the world use everyday, so it’s enormously gratifying | |
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to see how far we’ve come. On behalf of all the scientists around the world, we need your help so we can create the world without Alzheimer’s that all of us seek.” – Dr. Marilyn Albert | ||
