TeamAlzheimers.org - DREW GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND

Casino Night Fundraiser To Be
Held for TeamAlzheimers

TeamAlzheimers runner Drew Paradis has been featured in his local newspaper the Ware River News for his fundraising efforts on behalf of TeamAlzheimers. This is Drew’s third year running with TeamAlzheimers. His passion, enthusiasm and commitment go far beyond our expectations. Congratulations Drew and we hope for a very successful Casino night.

Please enjoy the article inside…

March 12 event will raise money for research and care facilities
By Melissa Fales

WARE- For as long as he can remember, Drew Paradis, 35, has looked up to his paternal grandfather, William W. Paradis, Sr. His grandfather taught him how to play cards (and often let him win), how to drive a standard shift, and offered a solid role model of how to be a man.

“He served in the Air Corps during World War II. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge,” said Paradis. “I knew he was a tough guy and I admired that. But even more than that, he was a good, moral person. He was a driving force behind my becoming who I am.”

Today, Paradis’ grandfather is in his 80s and suffering from the later stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In his honor, Paradis is holding the 2nd Annual Casino Night fundraiser to raise money for research on Alzheimer’s disease prevention and a cure, as well as facilities that care for its victims.

The event will be held Friday, March 12 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Knights of Columbus hall on West Main Street. Some of the featured games are Black Jack, Chuck-A-Luck, Roulette, and Texas Hold ‘em. The entry fees are $15 per person or $25 per couple, for $500 in gaming chips and a raffle ticket (per person). All chips won can be traded in for more raffle tickets. Raffle prizes include Red Sox tickets, a Berkshire Blanket bedding package, a membership to D&D Fitness Factory, an oil change from Dulak’s Garage, a golf package at Dunroamin Country Club, a wine tasting for 10 at the Hardwick Winery, and gift certificates to local businesses including Astronaut Pizza, Cluetts, I.T. Wireless, Lazer’s Pizza, Ware Package Store, and Wilton’s, as well as Sam’s, a new restaurant at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Paradis said while soliciting prizes for the raffle, he met others whose family members battle Alzheimer’s disease. “This disease touches so many people,” he said.

In June, Paradis will compete in Vermont’s Covered Bridges Half Marathon as a member of Team Alzheimer’s for the third time. It all started by accident. While training for the Boston Marathon, Paradis suffered an injury that made it impossible for him to participate in that race. Instead, he looked into the half marathon held two months later. Although the individual running spots were already filled, Paradis learned he could participate by joining one of the many charitable teams raising money for various causes. “On the list was Team Alzheimer’s,” said Paradis. “It just jumped off the page at me.” More information about Team Alzheimer’s is available at www.teamalzheimers.org.

Each member of Team Alzheimer’s is committed to raise at least $300. Paradis explained his choice of venue and the decision to hold a gambling fundraiser to reach that goal were not unintentional. His grandfather belonged to the Knights of Columbus, a big factor in Paradis’ own decision to join the organization. In addition to Paradis’ many happy memories of time spent playing cards with his grandfather, playing cards is a way to keep the brain active, something medical researchers suggest might help stave off Alzheimer’s disease.

“Alzheimer’s disease is not as popular a cause as cancer or AIDS,” said Paradis. “I think it’s because it strikes older people and memory loss is something we attribute to old age anyway. But this is much more than just having the occasional ‘senior moment,’” For example, on bad days Paradis’ grandfather will ask Aletha, his wife of over 50 years and his sole caregiver, “Am I supposed to know you?” Paradis has come to expect that when he visits his grandfather, he’ll be asked, “Now who are you again?” The senior Paradis has lived in Farmington, Maine since he moved from Quebec, Canada when he was 7 or 8. He proudly learned to speak English, but occasionally now reverts to speaking French. “You can see his mind taking him farther and farther away from us,” said Paradis. “It’s like watching his world closing in on him.”

Paradis’ grandfather is the last surviving of eight siblings, all of whom contracted Alzheimer’s disease. Paradis said the propensity of the disease in his family led him to read up on it and raise money to fight it. “They don’t know what causes it. Nobody’s been able to nail it down yet, but they believe it is tied to genetics,” he said. “Obviously, it’s scary to see that many people in my family suffer from one disease. As the funnel comes down to my generation, of course it’s a concern for me. Modern medicine is working on it, but there are so many variables. It’s too late for my grandfather, but it’s not too late for my parents or for me and my generation. There’s always hope on the horizon.”

Paradis said he’ll be thinking of his grandfather both during Casino Night and during the half marathon run. “He doesn’t know I’m doing this,” said Paradis, “but I like to think he’d be proud of me if he did.” For more information about the event or to make a donation, contact Paradis at 413-313-7147.