We created our first newsletter today  - for a free copy send us a contact email at feetmemory@yahoo.com

Here are some excerpts:

Hartville Market Place/Flea Market on January 26

 We have an exciting promotional opportunity at the popular Hartville Market Place on Saturday, January 26, thanks to the management’s generosity.

 

A sales and promotional table will be at the high-traffic market – where tee shirts, special jewelry and mugs will go on sale, and donations and sign-ups  be accepted.

 The Darlings will be on hand while the table is operating, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

Special events

•  Benefit Wine Tasting

November 17: 6-8:30pm

Maize Valley Winery

 

•Winterfest Walkathon

Canton’s Stadium Park/Garden Center

January

 

•Operatoonity! Lincoln Theatre, Massillon. Central Caltholic Choir, Bugs Bunny and more! In February!

From the walker - Geoffrey

 

Every step along this walk is a step surrounded by the people we will take with us – some passed, some under the yoke of Alzheimer’s Disease and many, like us, determined to see an end to it.

It’s what St Paul called a cloud of witnesses and it’s a reminder of wherever we go we take ourselves and our influences with us  - but it’s more.

 So many people who have given already to the cause are motivated by their own loss and we keep them in the forefront of our minds as we contemplate the enormity of this task.

No matter how hard, it is possible when we still have our minds, soul, strength – and  spirit.

My thoughts often roam to the early days when my mother Pat noticed her memory was beginning to fade.

She said her thoughts were becoming like thinking through cotton wool. She also predicted that she would live a long life but not remember much of it……she was right.

 I am dedicated to do what I can to help end Alzheimer’s disease. Please help by supporting Feet of Memory Inc. Each step we take is a step closer to finding that end to Alzheimer’s.

I am available to give solo performances of Mark’s Gospel or the Sermon on the Mount or Coleridge’s Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Contact me for information.

Thanksgiving Day is nearly here, although it seems in recent years, it’s the American holiday that is overlooked in the rush to Christmas. Let’s remember the blessings we enjoy and remember to help those in need.

Many families come to the holidays with heartache knowing that “Mom,” who used to love to prepare the feast, no longer recalls what day it is and why they celebrate. It is for those with memory loss that we diligently work toward our mission.

Feet of Memory Inc. formed August 2012 as a certified nonprofit organization in the State of Ohio Nonprofit. IRS 501(c)3  is pending.

 

 

 

 

www.feetofmemory.com
feetofmemory.blogspot.com
Geoffrey 330-819-8109
Rose 330-639-5378
Geoffrey Darling
5186 Everhard Rd NW Apt 4
Canton, OH 44718
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We value your thoughts
and ideas. If you have a
great idea for a fundraiser,
please let us know.

Grandma doesn't remember me anymore

"Why doesn't Grandma remember my name anymore?"
Not many questions are sadder than this. How sad for a child to stand by a dear grandparent and that one who used to play ball, tell stories and play hide and seek cannot remember the child's name.

How sad for the wife of 57 years to sit across from a breakfast table only to hear her beloved husband call her by a different name.

Such as scenes every day as Alzheimer's disease steals away memories, names, places, people....life. Memory loss starts small and grows until it eats away most of one's life's memories. even the body itself is affected by its own kind of memory loss...how to tie shoes, the urge to eat, or use the bathroom, or what time of day it is. Some people cannot tell the temperature and go outside dressed for summertime when the snow is blowing.

We at Feet of Memory Inc. set a goal to raise as much awareness and money to join in the challenge to bring an end - soon - to Alzheimer's disease. Your gifts and continued support of events and fundraising drives makes an impact. You help provide support services like support groups and educational seminars to family members and caregivers. You help provide funds for further research. You...yes, YOU, help us find an end to Alzheimer's disease when you support Feet of Memory Inc. we are a nonprofit organization in Ohio, but our Feet take us many places to raise money and awareness.

If your life and family has been touched by Alzheimer's disease, please write to us at feetmemory@yahoo.com we would love to hear your story. We also thank you for your donations and gift cards to national chain restaurants, hotels, gasoline stations, and general use such as Visa or Master Card prepaid gift cards. These help us do our work.

As you know, the months are swiftly flying by and we will soon be on our trek from Key West to Ft. Kent Maine. This journey of 2400 miles starts with a single step, and those many steps are made possible by the freewill donations of people like you.

Thank you.

Stick to the Plan

.... and the plan will stick to you. That was the mantra on the Ohio and Erie Canal towpath yesterday. Stick to the Plan, Stick to the Plan, Stick to the Plan - the chant that echoed in my increasingly empty head. The rhythm of the 4mph walking reinforced my determination to stick to the plan - it's so easy to veer off the original intent - this day the plan was 12 miles fast walking to compensate for the lack of time for anything else. The beauty of an out-and-back walk, compared with laps around a track is a greater incentive to "Stick to the Plan" - and you can always come home faster than you went out. The plan is rarely made until arrival at the start - but the big rule is to stick to it once it's made - At 40 Corners three women were girding their loins for a run - almost daring each other to set off, and so they did about the same time I did. With three it's easier to stick to the plan, no-one dares to cry off as a lone wolf can easily do. The women's slow jog, an estimated 5mph, contrasted with my rapid walk - 4+mph and meant they stayed in sight for some time on the long straights and large curves of the towpath, but eventually they disappeared and just acorn-laden squirrels and the resident blue heron accompanied me - no cyclists on this still, almost drizzling morning - plenty of time for the mantra - "Stick to the Plan and it will Stick to You" - four strides worth of wisdom which we have heard throughout our lives. Keep Your Eye on the Goal; No Looking Back etc - and the plan - as regular readers will know - is enormous; to walk from Key West in Florida to the top of Maine  in 100 days to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association - the plan is unfolding, we just need to stick to it. Fitness is the first thing we have found - the 30 day walk under the belt now we just need to maintain - organization comes next and that is well underway with the launch of Feet of Memory Inc. on March 24 in the Jackson Library, Canton and a winetasting at Maize Valley, Hartville, on November 17.
That's the Plan and we are Sticking to it

Where does all the money go?

When we give money, time and abilities to organizations, we always want to know it is going to help meet needs...we usually expect to see some results from our donations.
People who give to religious organizations expect certain results, while those who support health care organizations expect other results. Organizations that deal with teens must meet needs while services to the homebound need to meet their specific needs.
Here at Feet of Memory (FOM) we raise funds to help well-established organizations in the field of Alzheimer's research, education and services. Our Board established that 75% of funds raised in 2012 and 2013 will go to the Alzheimer's Association with the other 25% to Feet of Memory operations to help us plan and implement Geoffrey's walks and the events needed to raise awareness and funds. These numbers exceed a standard of 65% to services.
We chose to support the Alzheimer's Association in 2012/13 because they offer a tremendous number of services to families, caregivers and individuals dealing with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The human touch element of the Alzheimer's Association's services supports the many emotional as well as health needs that AD brings. These services alone are well worth Geoffrey's extreme endurance walk from Key West to Maine. But this organization also supports research and education...each of which requires a great deal of money.
As you support Feet of Memory you are supporting an organization that knows and appreciates the numerous services of the Alzheimer's Association .Through our walks, we help by raising greater awareness and funds on their behalf and that of the countless families served across America.

The other foot

In case you've ever wondered about who writes most of these blogs, it is I, Mrs Rose Darling. Geoffrey is out again in this 'stinkin' humidity, walking and keeping up his training. We have a board meeting tomorrow and the two of us have much to prepare.

Me in Dublin, Ireland,

October 2011



As Geoffrey pounds the pavement in his extreme walk from Key west to Maine, I plan to present a special program I co-wrote and presented numerous times for older adults with mild to mid-memory loss. It's a faith-based program, non-denominational, interactive and illustrative especially developed for small groups of about 12 people, but may be presented (successfully so) to much larger groups.

"Lessons in a Lunchbox" (c) 2002, packs illustrative items into an old-fashioned domed lunchbox for use in sharing the biblical story. A favorite 'lesson' is that of Ruth from the Old Testament. It is a story of family love and devotion, of strength in the midst of hard times, and faith. Songs and traditional hymns, psalms, and activities accompany the storytelling. Family photos, stalks of barley wheat and other tactile items also help stimulate the senses and memories.
When it was first introduced  to an Alzheimer's unit in 2002, a reporter from the Beacon Journal, Akron, Ohio, wrote how caregivers as well as those with memory loss were touched by the program. Several had tears in their eyes as they witnessed their loved one singing and even discussing some of the topics.

Anyway, while Geoffrey is walking, I will offer this program to retirement homes, adult day service centers, Alzheimer's support groups and others.

For many years I worked in retirement services as an activities director and in marketing/pr. It was while I was "Church Visitation Director" (a marketing position) for Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation that "Lessons in a Lunchbox" was written in response to a pastor's request to give church groups appropriate materials for use in services in retirement communities and nursing homes.

"Feet of Memory" is NOT a religious organization and "Lessons in a Luncbox" is NOT in any way an attempt to win people over to one way of religious thought. The two ("Feet of Memory" and "Lessons in a Lunchbox"are not inter-related. This is my interjection into the journey. I have to have something more than sight-seeing to do while he is walking! :-)
"Lessons" is a program based on traditional and historical songs, hymns, biblical verses and interactive discussions. I love presenting the program, and each time, I've been amazed at the response of people who rarely respond to anything! Family members and caregivers are invited to attend.

So, if you know a retirement community or other group similar to those mentioned above who would like to know more about this program, please contact me at feetmemory@yahoo.com. The program just costs $60.00 and I provide the leadership, all illustrative items, song sheets and take-home projects. The facility provides at least one helper, or more depending on group size, and refreshments, if desired. The program lists suggested snacks.

About Rose M Darling

EDUCATION
American Military University. MA in International Relations
Western Illinois University. BA in General Studies
Kent State University. Studies in music performance and journalism
Many courses in fundraising and development


SELECT EXPERIENCE
Music director/organist/choir director for several churches across Ohio and in New Zealand. Presently with First Church, Canton, Ohio
Freelance journalist/writer in Ohio, New Zealand.
Co-authored "The Elf Princess."
Playwright "Songs Sung Blues" and "Benders at 11"


THE HOME SIDE
Wife of Geoffrey (2005 to forever)
Mother of three sons Charlie, David and Jeffery
M-I-L to Brenda, Vikki and Lynn
Grandma to Dylan, Morgan and Peyton
Sister to Victoria and Faythe
Cancer survivor through the grace of God, modern medicine and the TLC of those around me.

Facebook Connection

Geoffrey out on a training walk along the Towpath

Our favorite Walker is out on a gorgeous day following a terrific Board meeting. Things are rolling along now and in the next few days and weeks, we will have a great deal more specifics to tell you. But for now, the daily training continues, fundraising events are in the planning-process, and we are getting the word out about Geoffrey's extreme walk. Will you help us please? If you read this blog, will you share it with friends and family, and also go to Facebook and search Feet of Memory for additional exposure to the general public.

On FB we are starting a discussion about how Alzheimer's disease has touched your life. Did or does your grandmother have memory loss? How do you feel when your loved one doesn't know your name? Please go to Facebook and ehlp start the discussion.

Rainy Days and Fridays

The rains they be a-comin' soon, but that's OK. It's nice and warm and a rain poncho will be quite enough to cover up our Walker. He's out for a 3-hour + trek on the Towpath today as the training continues.

If you have any great fund and awareness-raising ideas and would share them , we would love to hear them. We have a good many ideas and preliminary plans waiting for Board approval tomorrow, but we know many heads are better than one or two when it comes to ideas. If your organization has made lots of money via fundraisers, share how, please.....

I promised a wish list....here are some of the biggest needs that will enable us to help meet the needs for research, education and support services of the Alzheimer's Association.www.alz.org

WISH LIST for Feet of Memory

Here are FOUR ITEMS we need to help the extreme walk from Key West florida to Ft Kent Maine in 2013 be a success. The more that is donated to Feet of Memory, the more funds we send to the Alzheimer's Association to help fund research, education, and support services.

A good Class B RV or camper van....borrow, gift or purchase
Gasoline gift cards
Vouchers, redeemable points or gift cards for hotels such as Choice Hotels
Major chain restaurant gift cards

Our status with the IRS will soon allow us to send you a tax-deductible receipt! So wait to send your donation or gift if you want that tax-deduction. Our website is under construction, and the address and donation information will soon be posted. This is a work-in-progress and we appreciate your patience.

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.