I miss my dad every single day. Whenever I hear “Old Time Rock and Roll” or anything by CCR, I stop immediately and think of him and the incredible blessing he was to me for 39 years. Alzheimer’s is a heartbreaking disease that continues to affect far too many families, and I pray that one day we will see a world without it.

This year marks my 12th year participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and once again, I will walk in honor of my dad. Losing him on January 2, 2025, changed my life forever, but it also deepened my appreciation for the love, strength, and kindness he gave so freely throughout his 76 years. His legacy continues to live on through the memories he created and the lives he touched.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t miss holding his hand, talking with him about work and life, or seeing the smile that could light up any room. Even in the hardest moments of this disease, his smile never lost its warmth. That smile remains one of my greatest gifts and one I will carry with me always.

This walk is personal for me. I walk for my dad, for my family, for those currently battling Alzheimer’s, and for every caregiver and loved one walking alongside them. I walk to honor his memory and to help raise awareness and hope for a future without this disease.

Dad, I love you and miss you deeply. We will continue to walk for you and for the countless others impacted by Alzheimer’s, until the day no family has to endure this loss again.