It was a tight poll for this year’s Walk4ALZ mascot contest, but Eleven squeaked out the win and will proudly lead the Walk at Balboa Park on October 21st! With such a cute face, of course we had to learn more about her. With the help of her human companion, Carina Freedman, we were able to do just that.
First off, we wanted to know where such an interesting name like “Eleven” came from – turns out, there are a few reasons. Carina notes that “at first, the name was inspired by the character Eleven on the Netflix show, Stranger Things.” She adds that she and her husband got married in November, the 11th month of the year, and also like the phrase “11:11, make a wish.” A bonus reason is that in Italian, the number eleven also means “troublemaker.” Being a mix of Husky, Labrador, and Chow Chow, Eleven was always unique. When Carina’s husband came to California from Europe, he wanted to fulfill his dream of having a dog. After hearing about a family giving puppies up for adoption and going to see them, “it was love at first sight, and since then Eleven has been a part of the family.”
Now nearly two years old, Eleven’s favorite activities include making new friends at Dog Beach in Del Mar, running, and “playing with any stick she can find when she goes on walks.” Being an only child, Eleven gets excited every day for her humans to get home and of course loves it even more when they arrive with her favorite food, a salt-free burger patty from In-N-Out.
Carina’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in her early sixties, and many of Carina’s friends had joined the Walk4ALZ before, so she now walks as well. With Eleven being this year’s Walk4ALZ Mascot, together they’ll kick off the Walk on October 21st!
One last message from Carina and Eleven: “Our family recognizes the huge impact Alzheimer’s has on the individuals who have it, their family members, medical team, and caregivers. We appreciate the love and support each of these groups have for Alzheimer’s care. Thank you Walk4ALZ and Alzheimer’s San Diego for the positive impact you have on the Alzheimer’s community!”
Join Eleven and the rest of our community at Walk4ALZ on October 21st at Balboa Park! Sign up for free here, and you can also create a team (or join a team) and start fundraising together now.
By Braulio Ambriz & Daniel Hong
