$54,000 poured in for Alzheimer’s Association during October

COEUR d'ALENE — In Dennis Wheeler's eyes, the Northwest is full of caring and generous people.

Citizens of North Idaho and Washington responded to his call to donate to the Alzheimer's Association during the month of October. In an Oct. 11 Coeur d'Alene Press article, Wheeler challenged citizens to open their hearts and pocketbooks to match the $25,000 he personally pledged to donate to the cause.

Benevolent benefactors went above and beyond that amount, donating a total of $29,000 by Oct. 31.

"Right now, I'm overwhelmed," Wheeler said Thursday afternoon. "It's a wonderful thing to see from the community."

Wheeler, the former president and CEO of Coeur d'Alene Mines, was inspired to reach out to the community after reading about the Walk to End Alzheimer's in a Sept. 27 Press article. He was impressed to see how many people came out to support their loved ones and raise money for the cause.

The subject is near and dear to his heart. Wheeler's wife of nearly 44 years, Jackie, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago, and he has since been caring for her while they live one day at a time and face this unpredictable disease together.

He said challenging the public to donate to such an important cause may just be the key to helping nonprofits such as the Alzheimer's Association stay afloat.

"People want to be sympathetic, but they don’t want to loosen their purse strings," Wheeler said, adding that the response to this challenge gave him a good feeling.

"The Coeur d'Alene Press should really feel wonderful about what it does," he said. "You're stepping up and writing such a human interest article around which people can bond. We got a team result that looks really good so far."

Rachel Turner, communications and marketing manager for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, which serves Washington and North Idaho, said it's great that this region rallied to exceed the challenge amount. A challenge of this magnitude was unprecedented before Wheeler stepped in.

"What's really exciting about that is that this money is going to provide educational opportunities, workshops, care consultations ... it helps with help lines," she said. "It is awesome."

Dementia is a general term for a wide range of symptoms associated with memory loss and a declining mental state, while Alzheimer's is a kind of dementia that affects a person's memory, thought process and behavior. They affect a person's brain, mind, mood, life, and, especially, loved ones. No cure exists; they cannot be prevented, slowed or cured. According to the Alzheimer's Association, two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's are women and it is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

The Alzheimer's Association is dedicated to eliminating Alzheimer's and dementia through research, providing care and support for all affected and reducing the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Those in need can call the 24-hour help line, seven days a week, at 1-800-272-3900.

To learn more or donate, contact outreach coordinator PJ Christo at 666-2996 or pchristo@alz.org, stop by the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at 1042 W. Mill Ave., Suite 101B in Coeur d'Alene or visit www.alz.org/inlandnorthwest.