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.

FACTS about Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease cannot be (yet) be controlled, stopped or slowed and is a leading cause of death in the United States.

So, who is this man and why is he walking 2,400 miles in 2013?

Geoffrey Darling, co-founder and co-executive director of Feet of Memory is determined to do as much as he can while he can to help END Alzheimer's disease. He watched his mother Pat walk deeper into the thickening clouds of memory loss for 24 years. Her journey ended in March 2012, but countless others around the world must face the dark clouds that blot out the light of memory.

By walking extreme, endurance walks such as the one planned from Key West to Maine, he aims to raise as much money and awareness to enable the Alzheimer's Association continue and expand its research, education, advocacy and support services to bring an end to this disease.

YOU can help by enabling Geoffrey and Feet of Memory with your support. Have your friends follow this blog and our Facebook page to read about specific ways you can help and to follow our progress as we work toward this mega-walk in March 2013.

This blog will soon be remodeled to better inform you of who we are and our progress, thanks to YOU, our readers and supporters.

Walking 30 miles in training

By Geoffrey

Last week we celebrated walking 24 miles - who's "we" we always ask?  - Yesterday it was the 30 miles at the first attempt, but not as easy as it sounds. Since the first day's walk, on March 17 next year, will be 30 miles it's worth knowing if we can get over that first hurdle. On the 2400 mile walk from Key West to the top of Maine (Fort Kent) there will be six more 30-mile walks and two of 31, one of 32 and one of 35 ( on the pen-penultimate day, in Maine.  So know that I can do it is a tremendous boost; also knowing I defeat the "oh stuff it that's enough" demons gives great confidence, cos those naughty little ids were there, especially with 9 miles to go when I arrived back where I'd left the car - "just get in and drive back home - you can do the rest on the rubberised track at Jackson Park" - I thought I had sent them packing a few miles up the towpath. They'd been urging me to call it quits at the car but I bargained that "if walking 30 miles would see a cure for Alzheimer's Disease would I do it?" - the demon tempters disappeared. They were not the only wildlife on the towpath - it was fine day already at 7.30am when I set off for the first 15.5 mile leg and starling were flocking ominously - being harbingers of a hard winter with their early autumn gathering?  Leaves were falling regularly so it was not a surprise to see a large red one drop ten feet in front of me, until I realised it was a cardinal, who posed long enough for a photo but not long enough for the camera to focus. I would rather not post that pic- the blurry result makes the St Louis mascot look like a leaf.
A couple on bikes told me they had cycled 50 miles in a day of Cancer Research and I gave them a card to publicise Feet of Memory - they saw me later and commented on how quickly I'd travelled 10 miles
I figured if I walked north to two miles past the Stark County boundary and then south to the 13 mile mark before returning to the car I'd have traversed 15 miles twice= 30 -

So this was my turning round point at Lock 3 just north of Clinton.
Butterflies abounded, more precursors, heralds of the coming cold and almost back at the Stark boundary a stag dashed across the towpath about ten yards in front of me, closely pursued by two or maybe three doe, who stopped when they saw me and ran back into the thick undergrowth. The stag was off in the other direction, obviously an unwilling suitor glad to put a human between him and his anxious females.
Rose and our youngest grandson Peyton met me at Canal Fulton, after 15.5 miles and we picnicked for 40 minutes between I set off for the next 14.5 miles - the first half was cut out in 4 hours 20 mins - not rapid but steady enough but the second half took 4 hours 40 minutes. The first half mile or more after lunch was slow, it was like getting a large train up to speed and I was not at full (3.5-3.8 mph) pace for about a mile. I really slowed in the mid-20 miles and stopped at Ernie's bike shop to hand in sunglases found on the path. This large hawk stopped me too

and asked for help - I told him I'd look for the number to ring on one of the Stark County notices and kept on going  to the turnaround (13-mile) mark.
When I got back a man in a motorised wheelchair was ringing for help and I walked on content that it was being taken care of. Great the people of all mobilities can use the towpath, and even greater that the call for help for the stricken hawk should come from man with less than 100% mobility himself.

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.

New Aquamarine jewelry

"Pat's Corner"

Pat Darling spent the last 24 years of her life in the thick fog of Alzheimer's disease. She passed on in March 2012, just five days after her 90th birthday. Aquamarine is her birthstone and she was 'enchanted' with fairies and lily pads.

This handcrafted aquamarine necklace with fairie charm at the clasp is exclusively designed by Lynn Marie Jewelry for Feet of Memory. Each sale benefits the Alzheimer's Association and Feet of Memory which has as its mission to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association.

Other products that make great gifts to honor someone or for yourself are in production. for more details about the aquamarine jewelry, please write to feetmemory@yahoo.com.

Longest Day

Feet of Memory is a 'nonprofit organization' with the goal of raising money through extreme, endurance walks and theatrical performances in support of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association's emphases on research, education and support services are helping find ways to end Alzheimer's disease. Feet of Memory will walk from Key West to Maine in 2013 to raise funds to help end Alzheimer's disease.

http://www.ohioeriecanal.org/trail.html

On this beautiful morning, Geoffrey is doing a 30-mile walk on the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath. If you are not familiar with this bit of history, follow the link above. This photo is of a lock along the Towpath trail.

Today, Geoffrey packed several containers of water and some granola bars and we'll meet up later for a little picnic lunch.

A few days ago he bought some socks (some very expensive socks, I must add) that are designed to absorb sweat and keep his feet dry...helping to keep down chances of rubbing blisters. They seem to work very well, so it's worth the cost.

A very inexpensive insect-repellent he uses with great success may sound silly, but it works for him. He tucks a dryer softener sheet into his back pocket....so far he has avoided insect bites! As you know, early morning is prime time for those pesky little critters to come out looking for their breakfast, but Geoffrey is not on the menu!

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.