Marc Young, Managing Partner at My Creative Inc. in Chandler, Arizona, and his team count Walk to End Alzheimer’s among the highlights of their year. “The event itself is such an inspiration,” he says.

My Creative Inc. specializes in photography and videography, and since 2019 Marc and his team have been behind the camera at the Walk. Their images and video capture the moments that make the event so powerful: families, friends, and neighbors coming together for the people they love. This year, the team is taking its commitment even further by providing its services in-kind. The Alzheimer’s Association is deeply grateful to Marc and everyone at My Creative Inc. for the talent, time, and generosity they bring to the Walk.

A Personal Connection

For Marc, the work is personal. He lost both his paternal grandfather and his maternal grandmother to Alzheimer’s disease. Each was diagnosed in their 70s, and each gradually declined. Marc remembers them as “amazing family leaders,” which made watching them fade especially painful.

“To see the frustration on their own faces when something didn’t quite connect, and seeing the frequency of those scenes increase, felt horrible,” he says. He and his family felt powerless. They couldn’t fix the problem, and they didn’t know how best to comfort or support the people they loved.

Finding Meaning Through the Walk

Over the years, Marc found something that helped. Through his work at the Phoenix Walk, he has captured stories of people sharing their own experiences with the disease, and he has seen the love and community at the event firsthand. He describes the experience as cathartic.

It has also changed how he approaches the disease. “I wish I had done more to comfort my loved ones,” Marc admits, “but have so much more knowledge now.” As someone close to him begins experiencing forgetfulness, he feels more confident about how to offer support.

“Shining a Light on the Disease Shrinks Its Power”

When asked what he wants people to know about Alzheimer’s, Marc’s answer is clear: it’s not something to run away from.

“You can still support and be loving while facing such a devastating disease,” he says. Resources like the Alzheimer’s Association can help families educate themselves, so the topic isn’t treated like a “scarlet letter” and can be discussed openly. “Shining a light on the disease shrinks its power over you,” Marc says, “and allows you to participate in a much more powerful way.”

An Invitation

Marc hopes everyone touched by Alzheimer’s will experience the Walk at least once. “I wish everyone touched by the disease could come out just once and feel the love that event generates.”

He also has a message for the Association’s staff and volunteers: “Thank you for all the blood, sweat and tears in putting on such a powerful event.”

If you or someone you love is facing Alzheimer’s or another dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association Helpline is available 24/7 at 800.272.3900. Find resources, support groups, and ways to get involved at alz.org.