On November 7th I will be running the NYC Marathon and proudly fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF). My support for the ADDF stems from a familial place: my Poppy, Thomas LoRusso, passed away from Alzheimer’s five years ago. My Poppy was a die-hard New York sports fan who I rarely saw without sporting his Yankee bomber jacket or NY Giants sweatshirt. He was an avid athlete throughout his life and participated in various softball leagues and the NY Senior Olympics every year up until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. His commitment to health and wellness had always inspired me to stay physically active in different ways within my life whether it be on the soccer field, running, or attending different fitness classes in NYC. He cared deeply for his grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to go to a soccer game, tennis match, or track meet to cheer us on. It was heartbreaking to see the passions he once held deeply be taken away from him towards the end of his life.
The ADDF is such a special organization in that 100% of funds raised go directly to Alzheimer’s drug research in order to find new treatments for this devastating disease. This is so important to me because I’ve seen firsthand how this terrible disease affects a person and their loved ones around them - finding a cure is critical.
Though we are making great strides, Alzheimer's remains the only top 10 cause of death in the U.S. that can't be prevented, cured, or even slowed. By supporting drug discovery research, our marathon team will help conquer Alzheimer's! Although my Poppy is no longer with us, I know he will be with me every step of the race. Donations of any amount to reach my goal of $3,000 would be extremely appreciated and will directly contribute to finding a cure. Thank you!
