Hikers hit the trails for Alzheimer’s support

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (News10) – When John Marcantonio lost his mother, Mary, in 2016, it wasn’t sudden. It was the conclude of a very long struggle with Alzheimer’s Ailment – a fight where factors only grew additional demanding as months turned into yrs.

“It’s devastating to observe a loved a single shed all their capabilities,” Marcantonio recalled on Thursday. “The worst day of my existence was when I realized my mother no lengthier understood who I was.”

Nowadays, Marcantonio is spearheading a marketing campaign that started off with him and his good friends following his mother’s passing. Beginning the pursuing summer time, he and some companions commenced an annual custom, mountaineering mountains in the Adirondack Superior Peaks from sunshine-up to sunset to elevate cash for the Northeastern New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. A member of the association’s board, Marcantonio has developed his summer time solstice custom from boosting $5,000 yearly to hitting $18,000 in 2021.

For a 2nd 12 months, Marcantonio is inviting locals all across northeastern New York to sign up to be part of the Paint the Peaks Purple campaign, and hit the trails on June 21 – or whenever in June. You really do not have to be a 46er – another person who has climbed all of the Adirondack Large Peaks – in buy to assistance out. The marketing campaign invitations trailblazers of all ages and abilities to hike no matter what they can, anywhere they can, and share the donation url with their spouse and children and mates.

This year, the exertion aims to raise $30,000. Marcantonio wears a pin on his lapel bearing the symbol of the Alzheimer’s Affiliation, and suggests that the signifier has sparked its share of conversations that show to him how common the impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia can be.

“When I convey to him that this is the Alzheimer’s Affiliation symbol, everybody’s obtained a tale. Every person understands another person that has expert the tragedy of diagnosis, and what that journey appears like.”

The Alzheimer’s Association holds a substantial variety of fundraisers throughout its regional corporations, which go to investigate and sources alike. People resources were being ones that Marcantonio turned to when he realized that he could not treatment for his mom by itself, and required an individual to support him obtain exactly where to get her the treatment she necessary.

The mountaineering idea was especially hatched as a way to recall Marcantonio’s mom. As a boy or girl, Mary Marcantonio would hike with her possess father up Prospect Mountain every single Columbus Working day.

Climbing was not anything that Mary and John shared in the very same way, but Marcantonio’s mom was a walker until finally the stop – a little something that her son nevertheless remembers with a smile. Whilst living at Cronin Superior-Rise Residences in Glens Falls, Mary became a little something of a community legend – a person who could tear as a result of a pair of sneakers in 3 months.

“She had a very distinct gait – she had scoliosis,” John recalled. “She would hike all working day. I was quite blessed that all of the regional companies house owners, restaurants and retailers understood me, and realized my mom. They would supply her to appear in, have a consume of water, and they genuinely aided me to continue to keep her in independant living for as long as I could.”

On June 21, Marcantonio has lots of climbing forward of him. He and some companions – including the good friends who have been alongside from the start off – will hike Mt. Colden, the 11th-optimum mountain in the Adirondacks, at a whole elevation of 4,714 ft. On Wednesday, he kicked the season off with a excursion to the Moreau Overlook path.

All those seeking to get a grasp on the right hike for them have a great deal of selections. Marcantonio indicates the Lake George 12, the Lake Placid 9, the Adirondack 29 and the Adirondack Fire Tower Trails – just as a few spots to get started. All those who register with the marketing campaign on the net will be ready to submit information and facts on who is climbing with them and in which they’re heading, and post photographs of the journey.

While the dollars raised goes in direction of methods – which includes a 24/7 cellphone support line for individuals who will need somebody to switch to in caring for a liked one particular – it also goes to investigation into curing the ailment. It is that research that matters most to Marcantonio. For him, the hike on “the longest day” is about the subsequent technology to occur.

“I have a son. He’s 11 many years outdated. Hopefully by the time he’s 65 or older, this disorder doesn’t exist anymore.”