Alan Arnette, Visionary – For The 7 Summit Climb for Alzheimer’s Disease
Alan Arnette – The Visionary
The 7 Summit Climb for Alzheimer’s Disease
Please take the time to watch this video by my friend Alan Arnette, Visionary for change, Empowered Son of a Mother who died from Alzheimer’s disease. Alan shares his story and his mission to raise 1 Million dollars for Alzheimer’s disease. Be assured 100% of all fund raised goes directly towards the cause!
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The 7 Summits Climb for Alzheimer’s: Memories are Everything is a year-long challenge by mountain climber and Alzheimer’s disease advocate Alan Arnette to scale the 7 summits, the highest peak on each continent. Alan climbs in memory of his mother, who passed away in 2009 from Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, with another person newly diagnosed every 70 seconds. It is estimated to affect more than 5 million people in the United States and more than 25 million people worldwide. That’s why Alan chose to climb the 7 highest summits of the world to raise awareness of the growing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in our aging population and the enormous financial and personal burden it places on people with the disease, their caregivers and society. Alan is also striving to raise $1 million to advance Alzheimer’s research and provide support for family caregivers.
The Mountainous Burden of the Disease
What do mountain climbing and Alzheimer’s disease have in common? The mental and physical demands of scaling seemingly insurmountable peaks are not unlike the everyday trials that those living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers face. Understanding personal limitations, reaching out for support and taking steps day by day are all challenges both climbers and caregivers experience.
Many people are unaware of the enormous financial and personal burden placed on those with Alzheimer’s disease, their families and caregivers. The indirect and direct costs of caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease is estimated to be more than $100 billion a year in the United States alone. The worldwide costs of dementia are estimated to exceed one percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010, which equates to $600 billion, further demonstrating the global prevalence of the disease. And caring for a person with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming, as research shows that caregivers themselves are often at an increased risk for depression and illness.
The Climbs
Alan’s world journey for Alzheimer’s disease involves climbing more than 45,000 meters all while enduring temperatures that may be 40 degrees below zero with winds as high as 50 mph. The summits Alan will climb are as follows:
- Vinson, Antarctica – 16,067ft/4897m (Summitted: 12/9/2010)
- Aconcagua, Argentina, South America – 22,841ft/6962m (Summitted: 1/29/2011)
- Everest, Nepal, Asia – 29,035ft/8850m
- Denali, Alaska, North America – 20,320ft/6194m
- Elbrus, Russia, Europe – 18,481ft/5633m
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa – 19,340ft/5896m
- Carstensz Pyramid, Indonesia, Oceania – 16,023ft/4884m
Alan is taking on the extended challenge of climbing an eighth summit, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, part of the Oceania continent.
The campaign website, www.Climb4AD.com, contains information about Alzheimer’s, the campaign and how you can follow Alan’s high-altitude climbs. You can also learn how you can help support Alan in raising funds for the organizations he has selected, the Cure Alzheimer’s FundTM for Alzheimer’s research and the National Family Caregivers Association to provide support for family caregivers. One hundred percent of any donation you give will go directly to the organization you choose.
About Alan
Alan Arnette, 54, lives in Colorado and was a caregiver for his mother, Ida Arnette, who suffered the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease for nearly a decade until she died in 2009. Alan saw firsthand the urgent need for safe and effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, which currently has no cure. He also realized the support family caregivers need while caring for his own mother. Alan has combined his passion for mountaineering and his dedication to raising awareness of Alzheimer’s disease by embarking on the year-long journey. Alan is also striving to raise $1 million to advance Alzheimer’s research and provide support for family caregivers.
About the Campaign Supporters
Supporting Alan on this initiative, the Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc., is funding Alan’s climbs so that all money he raises from donations will go directly to the organizations he has selected: the Cure Alzheimer’s FundTM to advance Alzheimer’s research and the National Family Caregivers Association to provide support for family caregivers.
Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program
The Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program of Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy and Pfizer Inc. is an equal collaboration committed to researching and developing selective products for the treatment and/or prevention of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease.
The Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program believes that it is possible to reduce the burden of disease through early intervention in the illness. It is dedicated to delivering comprehensive and integrated solutions that help address the needs of people impacted by Alzheimer’s disease.
Its research focuses on the beta amyloid hypothesis. Scientific evidence supports the idea that preventing the accumulation and/or promoting the removal of beta-amyloid may have the potential to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and help preserve function in people with the disease. This theory is being tested in clinical trials.
Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy
Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy is researching, developing and commercializing selective products for the treatment and/or prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy is based in Dublin and has R&D facilities in South San Francisco.
Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world™
Pfizer applies science and global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. The company strives to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. That includes a diversified global health care portfolio of human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world’s best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with Pfizer’s responsibility as the world’s leading biopharmaceutical company, the corporation also collaborates with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference for those in need. To learn more about Pfizer’s commitments, please visit www.pfizer.com
In addition to the Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program, other organizations supporting Alan’s efforts include:
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund
The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund is a non-profit public charity established to provide funding for targeted research into the causes of Alzheimer’s disease. The Cure Alzheimer’s Fund exists exclusively to fund targeted research to hasten the slowing, stopping or reversing of Alzheimer’s disease.
National Family Caregivers Association
National Family Caregivers Association envisions an America in which family caregivers lead full and productive lives, free from depression, pain, isolation and financial distress. NFCA provides family caregivers support, education and a public voice.
Since 1986, International Mountain Guides, based in Ashford, WA has organized and led climbing, trekking and mountaineering expeditions around the world. International Mountain Guides is providing in-climb support.