Alzheimer's Awareness Club at St. Agnes Academy

Alia Jones (on left) and Isabel Smith (on right) at the parade after the Walk to End Alzheimer's.                      

At St. Agnes Academy, we have many free dress days. To wear free dress, students have to buy a free dress pass. These passes are usually used to raise money for organizations and student-led clubs. On Nov. 10, the Alzheimer’s Awareness Club sold free dress passes to raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s that occurred Nov. 19 here in Houston. 

Their original goal of $500 was exceeded and reached $875. President Alia Jones and Isabel Smith, both juniors, participated in the Walk. The Walk is the club’s big event. The club also volunteers every other Friday at Sheltering Arms. Isabel started the club her sophomore year because her grandpa passed away from Alzheimer’s. Here is her story:

Alia Jones at the Start line of the walk.

“I started the club sophomore year after my grandpa passed away from Alzheimer’s. He had been struggling with the disease for as long as I can remember. He lived in Florida so unfortunately, I wasn’t there when he passed away, but the last time I saw him before that was devastating. It was especially hard on my grandma who had to care for him. He refused to go to nursing homes or have someone else care for him at home, so my grandma had to stop everything to care for her husband who often forgot who she was.

In my experience volunteering, it is pretty common for those affected by the disease to become irritable and sedentary, but the caretakers do a great job of getting the members to be physically and mentally active.  Since then I have always worried that my mom, aunt, and uncle could have the gene for Alzheimer’s. I created the club to support organizations searching for a cure, so hopefully one day no one will have to fear that their loved ones’ or their own memories will be stolen by this disease.”