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April HennionApril is an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor and substitute teacher in Park City, Kentucky.

How long have you been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association and in what way(s) do you volunteer?  

I have been involved with the Alzheimer’s Association since 2016 when we formed a Walk to End Alzheimer’s team. I am the Co-Captain of Team Meredith, which is our family’s team for the Walk in Bowling Green. I am also an Alzheimer’s Congressional Team Member for Congressman Brett Guthrie.  

Why do you support the Association? How has Alzheimer’s disease personally affected you?

Sadly, Alzheimer’s has affected several of my family members. My Nannie and my husband’s grandfather both passed from the disease. Currently, my maternal grandmother is living with Alzheimer’s. In 2016, my Nannie lost her battle with Alzheimer’s. My family and I watched the loving, talented, strong-willed lady who took care of us all suffer through every stage of the disease. Her diagnosis was not only devastating in the facts that she lost her precious family memories and forgot our names, but in the realization that there were no remedies, meds or therapies that could cure her disease. I support, volunteer and advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association because I do not want my daughters and our future generations to know what it’s like for their loved ones to forget them. I want them to see the first survivor of Alzheimer’s. 

What else are you involved in within your community?  

I am a leader for a youth service club. I enjoy volunteering throughout the community and I’m involved in my daughters’ extracurricular activities. 

Why would you encourage others to support the Association?

I would encourage others to support the Alzheimer’s Association most importantly to help find a cure. But, I also think it’s important to provide support to families living with Alzheimer’s and to let them know they are not alone. I would encourage people who have loved ones with the disease to get involved with the Association in order to gain much needed support and see for themselves how hard we are all working toward the same goal - to end Alzheimer’s.

Is there anything else you would like us to include or know about you?

I feel like my work with the Alzheimer’s Association, along with the help of many others, has brought more awareness of the disease in our small county. I feel like people are talking more about their experiences and seeing the importance of finding a cure. Before forming a Walk team, I rarely talked to or heard about other families who had gone through this disease. Now, I often speak with and receive messages from people who have had similar experiences with loved ones or who are dealing with the disease now. The more we talk about Alzheimer’s the more awareness we can raise which ultimately helps our fight for a cure. 

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