Alzheimer’s is a brutal disease that robs its victims of their memories and, ultimately, of their lives. There is no cure and no vaccine to prevent it.
That said, there are things that can be done. The problem is that they all take money. In a community like this, however, almost all of us can help to one extent or another. That we can do so in honor of a man as well-known and well-liked as Stan Rabbe should make it easier.
As John Peel wrote in his Herald column Monday, Rabbe is a retired Durango teacher and school councilor who is also widely known as a runner, having run marathons on every continent. In 2011, he was diagnosed with dementia, which subsequent tests determined to be early-onset Alzheimer’s.
In Rabbe’s honor, his wife, Paula Lutz, is helping to organize the Stan the Marathon Man Alzheimer’s 5K to be run this Saturday. Proceeds from the race and the associated silent auction will benefit local Alzheimer’s education programs and support groups.
In thinking about Alzheimer’s, it is helpful to remember that, at one point, many diseases were deadly and today are preventable or curable. Smallpox was probably the most deadly plague in history and has now been eradicated. No one thinks a cure for Alzheimer’s is near, but everyone understands that research offers the best chance of getting there. That was how polio was finally beaten.
Funding is also the key to meeting more immediate needs. Alzheimer’s effects are not limited to the person who has it. The disease puts a tremendous burden on family members, friends, caregivers and, most especially, on spouses. All need support in a myriad of ways, including education as to how best to care for their loved one – and themselves.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a crucial resource for all that. Its local office serves nine counties, including nine group meetings for patients and caregivers.
This is a worthy cause, one that deserves broad community support. And while the 5K walk or run is clearly an athletic event, those who seek only to exercise their check-writing skills are probably also welcome.
The Stan the Marathon Man Alzheimer’s 5K will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Cottonwood Inn, 450 Prospector Drive, in Three Springs. Packets can be picked up beginning at 7:30 a.m., with same-day registration starting at 8 a.m. For more information, contact Paula Lutz by calling 259-4395 or emailing paula@durango.net.
