Greater Illinois Chapter Quarterly E-Newsletter

www.alzheimers-illinois.org
Fall 2005

24-Hour Helpline: 800.272.3900

Congratulations, Team CARE on a Successful LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon

Hooray for the 93 members of Team CARE who ran the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9 - and - who raised more than $72,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Special thanks to Bryan Selander and committee members Melissa Carlson, Steve Jaycox, Dave Kiefer, Jan Selander, Tom Walsh and Bob White for all their efforts.

"Team CARE (Conquering Alzheimer’s Running Endeavor) was formed in 2002 for marathoners wanting a team structure for training and running and for them to be able to 'race for a reason' as well as to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease and to support the Association's programs and services for the more than half a million Illinois residents impacted by Alzheimer's and other dementias who are in the 68 Illinois counties that we serve," said Bryan Selander of Rockford, a Team CARE founder and seven-time LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon runner. 

"In the past three years, more than 280 Team CARE members ran this marathon and raised more than $221,000 for Alzheimer-related programs, services and research," he said.

Bryan Selander (left) and Chuck Aron are two of the 93 members of Team CARE who ran the 2005 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Chuck received the "Helmer Selander Fundraising Award" as the top Marathon fundraiser this year

 "Donations also come from people who aren't running the Marathon but who want to support runners' efforts on the 26.2-mile course and the Alzheimer's Association.” 

Team CARE member Chuck Aron of Chicago welcomed the opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease, but the Marathon runner also joined the team because of a personal connection to Alzheimer's. 

"Last year I ran the Marathon in honor and memory of my brother-in-law who died at the age of 58 with early-onset Alzheimer's disease," Aron said.  "I had not run a marathon in 25 years.  I finished in a little more than five hours and raised more than $11,000 with the help of my family, friends and colleagues.  I tell everyone their donation not only spurs me to train a little harder but also helps improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's, including families, like mine, who lost a loved one to this insidious disease.  I'm very grateful when people jump at the chance to help, but I'm not surprised when they also tell me about their personal connection to the disease; one in 10 Americans have a family member with Alzheimer's and one in three know someone with the disease."

The Greater Illinois Chapter has been a partner organization of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon and has sponsored Team CARE since 2002, according to Selander, who also is a member of the chapter's board of directors.