THIS SUNDAY, 10/25, IS THE WALK!

In person: Please drive and park next to Pavilion #4. It will be the first Pavilion on your right in back after going through the 2nd open gate. There are comfort station restrooms right across the street.

Virtual: If you are running the race virtually please go to my Facebook page -  Lisa Kittleman  - and tune in to our live feed!!  Please post your pictures with the tag #walk4LBD

Thank you so much for visiting our fundraising page! Please join us as we lace up our running and walking shoes to support those who are or have been affected by Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).  

This cause is close to our hearts, with two very close friends being personally affected.  My best friend's family is beginning their journey with a Lewy Body diagnosis for her father and our Director of Operations, Katie, is navigating the reality of a Lewy Body diagnosis for her mom.  Please see Katie's story below. 

LBD is not a rare disease. It affects more than a million people and their families in the United States alone. Because LBD symptoms may closely resemble other more commonly known disorders, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsons disease, it is  widely under-diagnosed.  We hope this race will raise awareness of LBD and fund the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., which provides resources and support to those affected by LBD and promotes research into this devastating disease.

Katie's Story:

"My family’s lives were forever changed in the fall of 2018. Little did we know that after a call from my mom telling us her doctor diagnosed her with Parkinson’s disease, we would be in for a whirlwind of change over the next 6 months.

My mom went to the doctor to discuss some frustrating symptoms she was experiencing, including short-term memory loss and slower motor skills and coordination. Still thinking these recent changes may be associated with age, she knew something wasn’t quite right as she was barely 60 years old.

She had been writing down her symptoms for months and shared them with the doctor. Maybe it was the word ‘tremor’ that sparked Parkinson’s but that was the doctor’s diagnosis. With confidence (or maybe just being too busy) he immediately started her on Parkinson’s medicine. That is when we thought we lost my mom entirely... it was bad. The decline happened almost immediately. Sparing all the details, I’ll just tell you my mom was a completely different person. She lost the ability to walk, recognize her family, lay still for more than a few minutes and fend for herself. She was disoriented, paranoid, confused. It broke our hearts and we were almost as lost as she was, but we had to rush into survival mode. My stepdad “handi-capped” the house, hired in-home assistance, and we all took shifts at night for full 24-hour care.

Two months went by like this. It wasn’t until my stepdad found a new doctor when a miracle happened. He quickly realized her condition wasn’t Parkinson’s. It was Lewy Body Dementia.

Once her condition was recognized as Lewy Body, we all did our research just as anyone would. We could check off every box of symptoms in comparison- we just couldn’t understand why it was such a steep decline, literally overnight.

After switching her medicine, we got our mom back. She still has the disease and we know the progression will most likely worsen but at least slowly. And guess what?

My mom doesn’t have an in-home nurse anymore.
My mom watched my 8 month old while I worked during the pandemic.
My mom gave me financial advice last week.
My mom took a beach trip this summer.
My mom is planning a roadtrip next year to visit family out of state

A. TRUE. MIRACLE.

This walk means a lot to me for obvious reasons. But more than hoping to find a cure and advancing medical research, I want to spread awareness. If just one person can relate to our story or have a breakthrough like we did, I know it could save lives. "

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who may want to donate, too!

Lisa, Laura, Katie, Kristin - The Kittleman Group, Keller Williams Integrity