Together there is so much we can do

OperaTOONity

Is

Almost here....in 24 hours it will be all done.

It's amazing how much energy and time go into the production of a show, let alone the hours of work on the fundraising and awareness aspects.

Many press releases, radio interviews, publicity fliers and newspaper ads, Facebook postings and personal contacts. Wish us well! If you are in the Canton, Ohio area, come on over to the Lions Lincoln Theatre in downtown Massillon - 2 p.m. Feb 10.

 

This fundraising event by Feet of Memory will help us toward the endurance walk up the East Coast starting in Key West on historic US Rt 1. We are taking up to four months out of our lives to walk to raise awareness and funds in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Help us help researchers win this battle. Together there is so much we can do!

 

Visit www.feetofmemory.com for details and to donate.

Marching on

Feet of Memory Inc. marches on toward a successful Walk from Key West to Maine. As we hold public events and fundraisers, we also get the word about about Alzheimer's disease and its effects on lives...not just the one with the disease, but the family and community. Unlike many other diseases, Alzheimer's steals away one's life....past, present and future. Memories, self-awareness, and closest relationships are wiped away as the disease progresses. It may begin at an early age....such as 50s or 60s, but aging beyond 80 is the 'norm.' Researchers continuously seek the reasons why people develop this disease, as well as means to control and even end it.

Alzheimer's stole away Geoffrey's mother Pat...for more than 24 years, she slipped deeper and deeper into the thickening clouds of memory loss. Like many patients, her physical health was pretty good. She was a strong and fit Kiwi woman and to look at her - until the later stages of Alzheimer's disease, you might not know her memory and ability to speak coherently, to tell you her name, or recognize her family....had gone.

Our goal is to walk these 2,400 miles beginning on the anniversary of Pat's birthday 17 March, 2013 and tell her story...which is the story of many... as we journey historic U.S. Rt. 1. More than 32 millions people live within a 25 mile radius of this road, and we want to share her story while raising funds so others won't ever have a similar story to tell.

Thank you for your support.

Feet of Memory Inc is located in Canton, Ohio, with an international goal to present endurances walks to help end Alzheimer's disease...whether here in the US or in other global locations. Additionally, Geoffrey offers several solo theatrical performances to groups. His performances include "Tenacity" which is about his mother's journey with Alzheimer's disease, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "The Gospel of St Mark," and "Sermon on the Mount." Rose offers Lessons in a Lunchbox to retirement homes, adult day centers and other organizations with people in early to mid-stage dementias.

Contact us at 330-819-8109 (Geoffrey)

or via email: feetmemory@ yahoo.com

on our website at www.feetofmemory.com

how does your money help

When you donate to our nonprofit organization,Feet of Memory, Inc, your donations help local Alzheimer's Association chapters meet the needs of people wth Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. For example, our local chapter in Canton, Ohio provides numerous support groups, educational opportunities, Safe Return and more. As Feet of Memory helps the Alzheimer's Association by raising funds and awareness, we help provide important services and information.

Monies raised toward the  2,400 mile walk from Key West to Maine along historic US Rt 1 in 2013 help us do our work in order to raise MANY dollars toward research, education and support services. Additionally, the media coverage alone will help build awareness of the scope and issues of Alzheimer's disease.

We thank you for your support of Feet of Memory!

WINE TASTING

Tickets are now available for an enjoyable evening, November 17 at our Wine Tasting at Maize Valley Farms near Hartville on Rt 619. 6-8:30pm. The event ticket ($25.00 per person) includes four (4) wine tastings of your choice from the wine bar and you keep the glass, and appetizers in the Pavilion with Feet of Memory. Live music at the wine bar. Additional wine tickets may be purchased.

 A CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT...Come on, all you bean bag tossers...let's see who is the best! Winnr splits fees earned from the tourney 50/50 with Feet of Memory.
Additional opportunities for a low cost) include silent auction items including a wine basket from Maize Valley, a 50/50 drawing, and "Pat's Corner" merchandise (Pat was Geoffrey's mother who had Alzheimer's disease for 24 years) such as Feet of Memory tee's ($20) and specially designed aquamarine jewelry by Lynn Marie Jewelry. Contact us at

Feetmemory@yahoo.com.

Feet of Memory Inc. supports Alzheimer's research, education and support services through long-distance endurance walks and theatre. On March 17 ,2012, Geoffrey Darling, co-founder, will start a 2,400 mile trek to raise awareness and funds His walk takes him up historic US Rt. 1 from Key West to Ft. Kent Maine. Future walks to include the Pacific West Coast, the Gulf Coast, Ireland, England from Land's End to John O'Groats, and others.

Event dates

We are busy, busy organizing the walk and fund and awareness raisers to make it possible. This weekend we will look at an RV that may be a donation for the duration. Our new Creative Team is helping us with the planning and implementtation of these events.
So if you are in the Canton, Ohio area, here are a few dates for your calendar.

Launch Reception: October 24 from 5-7 pm at the Jackson Library on Fulton Road. Meet our Board of Directors, enjoy guest presenters, Nuts 'n Chocolates, the official launch with Balloons of Memory at 6:30. Please join us!



We are tying up loose ends for a fun fund-raiser at Vinoteca. Dates to be verified but should be November 16 and/or 17. Meet a past "King of Olde England," enjoy wine and a cheese/bread board, and live entertainment by professional musicians and Shakespearean actors. Details and ticket prices to be announced soon.

In December, come to the "Christmas Party Hop"! Again, details are now being confirmed and will soon be posted.

January features a Winterfest....hope there's some snow this winter!

February has an extra-fun, special event for the whole family to enjoy....but it's a secret for now......shhhhhhh.

As you see, we are very busy....if you can volunteer or help us out in any way, please write to us at feetmemory@yahoo.com

Feet of MemoryInc is a nonprofit organization with the purpose of raising awareness and funds for research, education support services oto help end Alzheimer's disease. Through extreme walks, such as the walk planned from Key West to Maine on historic US Rt 1 in 2013, Geoffrey and Rose Darling, along with a support team will present programs and walkathons from town to town along the way. Visit www.feetofmemory.com for more information. FInd us on Facebook, too.

Services you help provide

How do donations translate into literal help for those dealing with Alzheimer's Disease? There are numerous hospitals, research labs, service organizations and governmental agencies that work to find an end to Alzheimer's Disease. Monies raised by organizations such as the Alzheimer's Association go toward advancing research, on advocacy for greater emphasis on Alzheimer's disease by government agencies, on education, and services. Local chapters and groups offer group support meetings, conferences, libraries, and speakers who can share what's new in research as well as practical advice on dealing with the challenges brought on by memory loss. Of course, Alzheimer's disease knows no geographic boundaries as people around the world deal with the devastating effects of memory loss and dementia.

Some of the groups may or may not include people with the disease. Often, as they slip into deeper memory loss, social activities slip away. A few years ago, I co-wrote and offered a "Bible study" program for those with mild to moderate memory loss. Family members were invited to participate and we were thrilled to find many sons and daughters bringing their parents to these interactive gatherings where they sang old hymns and responded to biblical stories they had heard as children. Many tears were seen in the eyes of family members as they witnessed their loved one singing and reciting songs and verses learned long, long ago.


As Geoffrey walks the 2,400 miles from Key West to Maine, I will gladly present this program to older adult church groups, retirement communities, support groups and others that are located within driving distance of his walk on historic US Rt 1. Just write to Rose at feetmemory@yahoo.com asking for Lessons in a Lunchbox (c)

Dark Clouds of Memory Loss

Sometimes a call would come in the middle of the night, "Your mother was walking around the mall at 2 a.m. in her nightgown. She's safe. Please come and get her."

A full-security rest home was needed. In New Zealand's beautiful resort town of Rotorura, Pat Darling lived comfortably in a rest home for over 20 years. Gradually, she slipped from occasional lucidity to not recognizing her own family for many years. It is her life in the dark clouds of memory loss that Geoffrey honors through Feet of Memory. His extreme walk from Key West to Maine on historic US Rt. 1 begins on the anniversary of her birth - 17 March.

Allow Geoffrey's walk to honor your loved one also.
Consider becoming a donor at one of the following levels:

Path Builders: $20-50

Walkway Builders: $51-250

Road Builders: $251-500

Highway Partner : $501-1,000

Historic Route Guide: $1,001-and above

Thank you.

Feet of Memory is a nonprofit organization developed to raise funds to support Alzheimer's disease research, education and services through extreme, endurance walks.Please LIKE us on Facebook.

Deer Hawk

You never know what you will see along the Towpath. While on a 30-mile training walk yesterday, Geoffrey came across this stately hawk and soon realized its wing was injured. Park ranger phone numbers are posted along the Towpath, but he could find none, but fortunately someone had, and as Geoffrey walked nearer, he heard the call about a distressed hawk. Hopefully help was swift and they were able to help it.
A large deer also bounded from the wooded areas across the path...a bit startling, but wonderful, to see!
During these last weeks of summer and early autumn here in northeast Ohio, color abounds. Already we notice spots of red and yellow on trees, and the bees are out full force doing what they do this time of the year.

If you have a loved one with mild to moderate dementia, why not take them on a walk or in a chair if needed, into a place of natural beauty? This may trigger memories of years gone by, and if not, they and you, will enjoy the beauty of the outdoors as well as the company of someone you love.

The Alzheimer's Association offers education and support services for families and friends of those with increasing memory loss. Visit www.alz.org for information about research and much more. Find a support group in your area. Support fundraising events for this important work.

Feet of Memory was created to support the Alzheimer's Association through endurance, extreme walks and theatrical performances. We will soon have a calendar of events you may attend...and we hope you will if you are in the area. We will skype these events as much as possible so you may be a part of it, too!

We have a wish list that you can help us with. They will soon be posted on our website which is under construction, but available to view now. These items such as gift cards to chain restaurants and gasoline stations will help Feet of Memory fulfill its goal to raise money....LOTS of money for the Alzheimer's Association and its research, education and support services. Geoffrey will walk the 2,400 miles from Key west to Maine along historic U.S. Rt 1, through "Americana" at its best as well as some of the largest cities in the USA. You can join him on portions of the walk near you! We will post a map on the website at www.feetofmemory.com. Gather some friends, and pledges, and walk 5, 10, 20 miles with him to help end Alzheimer's disease. You'll never know what wonders of nature YOU will discover along the way.

Contact feetmemory@yahoo.com for details.

Loony!

Who is your favorite Looney Tunes character? Mine is Tweety Bird, but Bugs Bunny takes a close second. I especially enjoy the opera segments. Remember those? In fact, Bugs pretty well introduced many youngsters to the world of opera. Sure it was funny, but at least we heard another genre of music than what was heard on pop radio. I can't say that Bugs Bunny was a catalyst for me to study singing, but perhaps he was!



What's all this talk about Looney Tunes? Well.....Feet of Memory is planning a very special Operatoonity for a fun, family, fund-raiser.

So, as soon as we get our 'star' performer booked, we will post the information. This will be a show to remember!

In the meantime, keep on walkin'!


 Feet of Memory utilizes endurace, extreme walks and theatrical performances to raise awareness and fuds for the Alzheimer's Association and its goals to end Alzheimer's Disease. We support this organizations research, education and support services. Geoffrey Darling wil embark on a 2,400 mile walk from Key West to Maine on historic U.S. Rt 1 in March 2013 to raise money for the Association. Follow this blog to add your financial and volunteer support to help us help end Alzheimer's Disease.

Tappan Lake

It's off to Tappan Lake, Ohio, today to relax and enjoy the company of theatre friends...and perhaps get in a good walk, too.

Enjoy your weekend!

Feet of Memory is dedicated to raising funds and awareness to help end Alzheimer's disease.

Extreme walks are the ultimate means by which we meet our goal. Geoffrey Darling will walk 2,400 miles on U.S. Rt 1, the historic highway from Key West, Florida to Ft. Kent, Maine beginning 17 March 2013 and ending Independence Day. Help us make this walk successful and help bring and end to Alzheimer's Disease by supporting the research, education and support services of the Alzheimer's Association. www.alz.org

Watch this blog for events and opportunities to honor your loved ones through the

Board of Remembrance.







Goals

Our Walker just got home feeling quite energetic after a 25-mile walk on the Towpath today. In just a few months, he'll walk that far nearly every day for 100 days as he journeys up historic US Rt 1 from Key West to Maine.
Have you set any new goals for yourself...improved fitness...education goals...better relationships? If you have no goals, you won't reach them. Set some small goals for your life and as you meet them what a sense of accomplishment you will have! That feeling will spur you on to more goals and new accomlishments. It's your choice.

You are never too old to dream new dreams...CS Lewis.

About our Walker

Do you know anyone who has walked 2,400 miles? A thousand miles? Six hundred miles? In 2002 Geoffrey walked the entire north/south distance of his native New Zealand's beautiful South Island. This 600 mile walk took about a month, and in addition to the endurance walking, he performed a "feat of memory" - his one-man presentation of the Gospel of St. Mark - about a 90 minute presentation. 

A scene from A Secret Garden

Geoffrey's big strong legs take him many places, and his amazing dramatic acting gifts have also taken him many places. This acclaimed actor has performed in theatres and organizations in northeast Ohio; Illinois; London, England; Ireland; Australia and New Zealand. He studied acting with New Zealand fictional crime writer and theatre director Dame Ngaio Marsh. In 2007, Geoffrey was awarded an Acclamation for Artistic Achievement from the Ohio Senate. He will soon play the "Giver" in a play by the same title produced by the Magical Theater Company in Barberton, Ohio. He has appeared in Equus, Macbeth, The Secret Garden, Terra Nova and numerous others.

Along his 2,400 mile journey, Geoffrey will offer groups, churches and organizations the opportunity for his solo performance of an original play about a conversation with his mother years before she started the struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

If you know an organization, church or group along the US Route 1 historic highway, who might be interested in sponsoring a perfornmance, please contact us either here or at feetmemory.yahoo.com.

Itinerary looks dauntingly fun

St Paddy's Day minus 223 and all's well - with 450 training miles under the belt and 1950 to go - until I realise that, when translated to the actual walk from Key West to Fort Kent, Maine, that does not even get us out of Florida. Or even to the second scheduled rest day. At mile-peg 450 we will be a day's march from St Augustine Beach and still three days from reaching Georgia - so even though a gentle nine mile walk beckons today we know the time has come to put in some testing 25-miles plus walks. Question is, when can we spare the time for the all-day effort and the all-week recovery.  As summer threatens to close down temperatures in sunny Ohio and bring this Golden Weather to an End, I want to get the daily average required to below 8 miles per day by the beginning of December - because I want to have walked 2400 miles in training since May 23 ( when records began, as they say in the weather forecasts) - the  required average is still 8.71 daily miles and the completed average - well let's math the do. 450/ 82 is 5.48 per day! - that's a revelation. I thought things were better than that.  Too many days off, too much self-indulgence and not enough reality. Nevertheless the physical results are still good and the pulse rate is 46.
So take a quick look at the schedule and see if you agree that, even at eight months out, we need to get urgent -

Florida                                               miles

March 17:  Key West to Big Pine Key     30 

March 18: Big Pine Key to Marathon     18

March 19:  Marathon to Layton              20

March 20: Layton to Key Largo               31

March 21: Key Largo to Homestead       30

March 22: Homestead to Cutter Bay     12

March 23: Cutter Bay to Miami Beach   23

March 24: Miami Bch to Ft Lauderdale 24

March 25: Ft Lauderdale to Delray Bch  29

March 26: Delray to West Palm Beach  19

March 27: Day off walking

March 28: W.Palm Bch to Hobe Sound  27

Good Friday: Hobe to White City           24

March 30: White City to Vero Beach      27

Easter Sunday: Vero to Grant                 22

April 1: Grant to Palm Shores                                21

April 2: Palm Shores to Titusville           30

April 3: Titusville to Bethune Beach       24

April 4: Bethune to Daytona                   23

April 5: Daytona to Flagler                     20

April 6: Flagler to St Augustine Beach   28

April 7: Day off walking

April 8: St Augustine Bch to Bayard       25

April 9: Bayard to Jacksonville                17

April 10: Jacksonville to Callahan           20

Georgia

April 11: Callahan to Folkston                                22

April 12: Folkston to Waycross Forest   27

April 13: Waycross F. to Alma                                32

April 14: Alma to Baxley                         20

April 15: Baxley to Toombs Central        19

April 16: Toombs to Oak Park                 24

April 17: Day off walking

April 18: Day off walking

April 19: Oak Park to Swansboro            18

April 20: Swansboro to Louisville           30

April 21: Louisville to Blythe                   29

April 22: Blythe to North Augusta          21

April 23: North August to Ridge Spring  32

South Carolina

April 24: Ridge Spring to Lexington        28

April 25: Lexington to Dentsville            18

April 26: Dentsville to Camden               25

April 27: Camden to McBee                   27

April 28: McBee to Cheraw                    28

April 29: Cheraw to  Rockingham           20

North Carolina

April 30:  Rockingham to Aberdeen       26

May 1: Day off walking

May 2: Aberdeen to Sanford                  30

May 3: Sanford to Jordan Lake               21

May 4: Jordan Lake to Raleigh               25

May 5: Raleigh to Wake Forest              17

May 6: Wake Forest to Henderson        27

May 7: Henderson to Palmer Springs    24

May 8: Palmer Sp. to  Meredithville      26

Virginia

May 9: Meredithville to McKenny          18

May 10: McKenny to Petersburg            26

May 11: Petersburg to Richmond           22

May 12: Day of walking

May 13: Richmond to Ashland               16

May 14: Ashland to Co.606                     27

May 15: Co.606 to Aquila Park               24

May 16: Aquila Park to Springfield         27

May 17: Day off walking

May 18: Springfield to College Park       24

Maryland

May 19: College Park to Baltimore        26

May 20: Baltimore to Bel Air                 23

May 21: Bel Air to Rising Sun                 22

May 22: Rising Sun to Kennett Square   24

Pennsylvania

May 23: Kennett Sq. to Drexel Hill         24

May 24: Drexel  to Philadelphia East     24

May 25: Phil. East to  Princeton             25

New Jersey

May 26: Princeton to Woodbridge         26

May 27: Woodbridge to Newark            15

May 28: Newark to Pelham Manor        27

New York

May 29: Pelham Manor to Rye               9

May 30: Day off walking

May 31: Rye to Norwalk                         19

Connecticut

June 1: Norwalk to Milford                     21

June 2: Milford to Guilford                     24

June 3: Guilford to Old Lyme                  25

June 4: Old Lyme to Mystic                    23

June 5: Mystic to Kingston                      30

Rhode Island

June 6: Kingston to Cranston                  24

June 7: Cranston to South Walpole        24

Massachussets

June 8: South Walpole  to Quincy          22

June 9: Quincy to Revere                        15

June 10: Day off walking

June 11:  Revere to Newburyport           30

June 12: Newburport to Portsmouth      20

New Hampshire

June 13: Portsmouth to Kenneburk        26

Maine

June 14: Kenneburk to Portland              26

June 15: Portland to Brunswick              26

June 16: Brunswick to Damoriscotta      26

June 17: Damoriscotta to Rockland        27

June 18: Day off walking

June 19: Rockland to Belfast                  20

June 20: Belfast to East Orland              22

June 21: East Orland to Hancock            24

June 22: Hancock to Addison                  31

June 23: Addison to East Macha            22

June 24: East Macha to Pembroke         27

June 25: Pembroke to Calais                  26

June 26: Calais to Princeton                   20

June 27: Princeton to Houlton Road       26

June 28: Houlton Rd to Amity                                30

June 29: Amity to Monticello                 27

June 30: Monticello to Presque Isle       28

July 1: Presque Isle to Caribou                13

July 2: Caribou to Van Buren                  22

July 3: Van Buren to Madawaska           24

July 4: Madawaska to Fort Kent             20         

    

Board on a Mission

Nobody likes meetings...unless they are the exciting planning meetings to get Feet of Memory up and walking from Key West Florida to Ft. Kent Maine! Saturday, the Board meets to plan and organize all those details that make a project successful.

On the community fundraising side of the drawing board are several ideas including theatrical performances, a Winter Wonderland Walkathon and Festival, super-Saturday garage and bake sales, and lots more. We even have special hand-crafted jewelry and products you can wear with pride and to show support.

Statistically, Alzheimer's Disease is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. However, few diseases span as many years with such devastating tolls to the individual, their family, and friends. Geoffrey's mother Pat had A.D. for 24 years with progressively deteriorating memory and physical losses. In her honor, and to help end, yes, END, this dreadful disease, Geoffrey will do his extreme walk of the 2,400 miles of U.S. Route 1, the historic highway. Along the way, he will ask the community to come out and walk with him, to sponsor special events which may include one of his solo theatrical performances. Geoffrey is a trained and highly skillful international stage actor with a long list of theatrical credits. You will soon be able to view a snippet performance on the website that is currently under construction.

The Alzheimer's Association offers education, research and support services for those touched by A.D. and Feet of Memory's mission is to raise money and awareness toward this work.

We need volunteers and resources to make it happen. We need you and soon we will post a new website with details on the Feet of Memory organization and its work and how you can help us make a major difference in research, education and support to end Alzheimer's Disease.

12 and counting

Another training walk of 12 miles is now history as Geoffrey racks up more and more miles toward 2,400 training miles prior to his actual extreme walk. He has 1976 training miles to go in 226 days - an average of 8.74 per day. With an occasional day of rest, he is out pounding the pavement or dirt track. To remind you, he is walking 2,400 miles on US 1, the historic highway,to raise funds for research, education and support services offered by the Alzheimer's Association. www.alz.org.

Maintaining fitness over the coming colder weather (yes, it will come in a few months) will be a bit challenging, but that's what Planet Fitness is for!

Geoffrey aims to be as lightweight as possible for the extreme walk from Key West to Ft Kent Maine. He'll have to carry some essential items like fluids, rain wear, first aid items and food which, of course, will add to the weight.

Some fundraising and awareness-raisers are on the drawing table and we will let you know when we have some definite plans!

Put One Foot in Front of the Other

Follow us on a 2,400 mile journey from Key West to Maine to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer's research and support. 

This "feet for memory" honors Geoffrey Darling's mother and family who suffered the effects of Alzheimer's Disease for 24 years. Each 100 miles equals every year.  

The trek begins with the launching of this blog  May 1, 2012 and the walk starting in Key West on March 17, 2013. It sounds a long way off, but time does fly!

Follow along our journey ... and please, lend your support.