Anjanette Kichline is the proud daughter of Gary and Joanne Kichline and an active advocacy volunteer with the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter. She has named the Association as a beneficiary of her retirement plan and is dedicating her gift toward Alzheimer's research.

My father, Gary, was the kind of guy who could walk into a room full of strangers and leave with new best friends for life! He was one of the most cheerful, good-natured and gentle people.

But when Dad was in his mid-50s, my family noticed him struggling. His work and handyman skills began to deteriorate, and he became depressed and withdrawn. This was not the man I knew. At age 58, Dad was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease. It was devastating for our family.

Our first step was to attend an information session hosted by the Alzheimer's Association to learn more about the disease and about programs that might help us. Our family attended the meeting together. That meeting inspired me to start a Walk to End Alzheimer's® team that continues today, almost 20 years later. As Dad's journey with the disease progressed, I also benefited from an Association-led support group, and the camaraderie, care and advice from others experiencing the same challenges.

These positive interactions with the Association led me to want to find a way to give back to others and to honor my father and our other family members who have likewise struggled with this disease. I was proud to serve as a board member of the Alzheimer's Association Delaware Valley Chapter from 2017 to 2024. Finally, over time, I became involved in advocacy through the Alzheimer's Impact Movement, and I began talking with lawmakers about my family's experience. That advocacy work continues today.

Giving back to the Association means so much to me, and when I began, I had no idea how much I would get back in return. Throughout the nearly two decades since my father's diagnosis, I have cherished the community of close friends I have met through the Association. They helped me understand that my family was not alone in our sadness and struggle, and standing beside them, I have tried to make a difference for other families who are facing the same challenges. I know my dad would be proud.