A bit over a month ago, thousands of you voted for our Walk4ALZ 2024 Pet Mascot, with Tucker coming out as the big winner! Read about all of his favorite activities and the connection that his human parents, Robert and Loraine, have to Alzheimer’s disease.
Tucker’s Life
Now ten years old, Tucker the soft-coated Wheaten Terrier was part of a litter born from a show dog. “Tucker ran over to us when we were looking and showed so much interest and excitement. We picked him up and he immediately started licking our faces. We were smitten. So, I guess Tucker actually picked us!” Robert says.
Tucker’s favorite activities include going for walks around the Encinitas Ranch golf course, exploring walking trails, eating sliced turkey, and now in his older age – napping.
When asked about the best memory with Tucker, Robert mentions “When Tucker was a puppy, we used to bring him to Mammoth Mountain during ski season. He LOVED running around in the snow, diving face first into the drifts. His fur would turn into gigantic, matted snowballs. Then we would sit by the fire, warm up towels in the clothes drier, and wrap him up so he could defrost. He just seemed so incredibly happy and content. So were we.”
Personal Connection to Walk4ALZ
Robert’s wife, Loraine, was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2020 at 61 years old, and had shown initial signs of mild cognitive impairment dating back ten years ago. Loraine’s mother, Edith, also lived with Alzheimer’s and they witnessed firsthand Edith and her husband go through that period of their lives.
“Given those life experiences, it was tough to grapple with Loraine’s diagnosis. But it made us that much more realistic about what we needed to do, together, to maximize our remaining time. Our children, extended family, and friends have been incredibly supportive. And we love the UCSD-ADRC support group that we attend weekly. It is incredibly valuable to share experiences and lessons with other support group members, who are going through similar daily challenges. It makes us more realistic about what is likely to come, which helps us prepare, adjust and cope.”
Having first heard of the organization through their support group and doing more research online, Robert and Loraine have now been part of the Walk4ALZ for the last few years. Robert has been a member of multiple of our caregiver support groups, attended education classes – and they are monthly donors to our organization. Lastly, they share that they believe “it is important to support local education and services for affected individuals and their loved ones. Simply put, Alzheimer’s is a devastating disease. Until researchers discover a cure, Alzheimer’s will be a major societal challenge, particularly as our populations get older.”
Join Tucker, Robert, Loraine, and the rest of our community at Walk4ALZ on October 19th at Balboa Park! Sign up for free, create a team (or join one), and start fundraising together. For one-on-one memory loss support, call us at 858.492.4400 to speak with one of our dementia experts who are here to help San Diego County residents and/or those caring for someone living in San Diego County (Spanish speakers available). Check out our free services here.
By Braulio Ambriz
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Posted on October 2nd, 2024
