The Longest Day for the Longest Hill

A recent Facebook post from Your Austin Marathon said this: Battle San Jacinto. San Jac is a “cruel 85-foot climb over a quarter of a mile that starts the final mile.  If you didn’t prepare for it, it can really take you down.”  It’s not the worst hill ever, but after several hours taking a beating, your quadriceps don’t know the difference. It feels like a long hill even with all the people lining up to cheer you on.

Today, on June 21, 2014, summer solstice, the Alzheimer’s Association, honors those who are on their longest hills as teams from all over the world come together to “honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing Alzheimer's with a day of activity.” My dad passed away several months ago from complications related to Alzheimer’s. For the more than 5 million of Americans living with the disease and over 15 million caregivers, every day is an uphill effort. Every valley leads to a bigger hill. Today, I pray for families of caregivers who are just now starting their own journeys. My brother and mom were my dad’s primary caregivers. They embraced the challenge in such a way that my dad was able to pass away at home when he was ready. And, isn’t that what we all want ... to finish our race on our own terms.

ABOUT THE LONGEST DAY

On The Longest Day, teams around the world come together to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing Alzheimer's with a day of activity. Held on the summer solstice, June 21, 2014, this event calls on participants to raise funds and awareness to advance the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.