 |
|
|||
|
Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's |
 |
      In the News For a cure, Brighton's Caitlin Kurasek rides Stingray designed by ailing grandfather By Sara M. Brown, Correspondent Wicked Local Allston Posted Jul 30, 2010 On July 24, while most people were enjoying the humid summer day by going to the beach or the park, Brighton’s Caitlin Kurasek was biking 20 miles on an original Schwinn Stingray. Not for her love of biking or even to stay in shape, Kurasek was participating in the Alzheimer’s Association’s Memory Ride for Alzheimer’s research. Last year, Kurasek’s grandfather, Al Fritz, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “Such a diagnosis is devastating to any family, but we found it even more heartbreaking because my grandfather has the sharpest mind of anyone I’ve ever met,” said Kurasek. “He is the alpha dog of the family,” said the 27-year-old. “It’s hard for him to go from one who takes care of everyone to being the one taken care of.” While doing research on the disease, Kurasek came across the Memory Ride, which raises money for research to find treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s. “I saw how heartbreaking it was for my family and if I couldn’t help my family, maybe I could help other families,” said Kurasek, who is in the process of moving to California to open her own restaurant. There was another reason why a bike ride seemed like a perfect avenue to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease for Kurasek. “I thought how perfect since my grandfather has such a deep connection to the bike world,” said Kurasek, whose grandfather designed the original Schwinn Stingray — the bike Kurasek rode in honor of him. For Kurasek, riding the bike her grandfather invented was something very close to her heart. “I wanted to ride in honor of him on the bike he invented,” said Kurasek. Kurasek has always had a very close relationship with her grandfather. When she was 4, her parents divorced and by the time she was 5, her grandparents had moved in and lived with her until she was 18. With her father away because of the divorce, her grandfather became a “father figure” in her life. “He was the male figure that raised me. He taught me how to toss a football and all that,” said Kurasek. One of the many things Kurasek admires about her grandfather is his character. “I’ve never heard him say a mean thing about anyone,” said Kurasek. Kurasek also loves her grandfather’s talent for storytelling. “He never needs to be the center of attention, but somehow is because of the great stories he tells,” said Kurasek. Days before the ride, Kurasek was anxious. “I’m a little nervous,” said Kurasek. “I really haven’t had that much training. I’m worried it hasn’t been enough. “ Nerves aside, the day of the ride on a hot day in Devens in central Massachusetts, Kurasek completed the 20 miles. She also raised $1,600. “I was able to finish, so I consider it a victory. It was very hot and humid, so it was a lot tougher than I expected,” she said. “There were also a few more hills than I expected which was pretty difficult, considering my bike only has three gears. The whole atmosphere of the ride and the enthusiasm of all the other riders were amazing. It was a great group and a great ride for sure.” Twenty miles proved to be more difficult than Kurasek had previously imagined. “The ride was definitely a challenge. There were a few times when I really thought I wasn’t going to make it. But I kept telling myself that whatever pain I was going through was nothing compared to what my grandfather was going through,” said Kurasek. “Also, that he doesn’t have the option of quitting from Alzheimer’s, so I can’t even consider it an option to quit the ride. It felt so great to cross the finish line and have everyone cheering me on. I still can’t believe I made it all 20 miles on that bike.”
Memory Ride hits close to home for Ayer man By Hiroko Sato, Lowell Sun Jul 23, 2010 AYER -- Ted Kosciak still remembers the day his father picked up an unusual-looking watering can and headed out to his proud garden. Kosciak immediately knew it was a gasoline can. His father didn't. Some time later, Kosciak's wife, Michelle, and their children visited his father. She asked him what he had been doing. He looked at her and replied: "I'm waiting for Michelle and her kids to come." Alzheimer's disease, which started out with these episodes of "forgetfulness" in the case of Kosciak's father, would slowly deprive the retired General Motors worker of his active lifestyle. Kosciak always thinks about it when he comes to a steep hill on his bike and feels that he can't go on. He knows life is harder for those who suffer from the incurable illness. And, he gathers the strength to push himself harder. "It's important to (the patients' families) that we find a cure for this disease," Kosciak said of the reason he pedals 62 miles in the Memory Ride, the annual bike ride organized by Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts. "It's a day for me to think about my dad. It's a day of remembrance for a little bit." Kosciak, of Ayer, will join more than 250 cyclists from around New England tomorrow for the Memory Ride to help increase awareness about Alzheimer's Disease and raise funds for finding a cure. The annual cycling challenge starts and ends in Devens, and features 100-, 62- and 20-mile rides. Founded by the children of Julia and John Noonan of Stoughton in 1997, the event has raised more than $2 million for research on Alzheimer's disease that affects 5.3 million Americans. This year's goal is to raise $325,000. The 100- and 62-mile routes involve several communities, including West Groton and Nashua, while the 20-mile route is between Devens and West Groton. Kosciak, also a Memory Ride board member, started participating in the ride in 2002 to fight the degenerative, fatal brain disease. Kosciak, who works in sales at business-supply maker Deluxe Corp. in Groton, tells as many people as possible about the bike ride. Many visit his Facebook site and make donations. Kosciak raises about $2,000 for each Memory Ride. He's "amazed by how many people are affected by it," he said. Kosciak said his late father, whose name was also Ted Kosciak, often didn't know what was going on around him. His neighbors in Milford had a "Ted Watch" to prevent him from getting lost during a walk. When he had a stroke -- which eventually killed him in 2004 at 84 -- he looked confused about his whereabouts, Kosciak said. "I could see his mind swirling like a tornado," Kosciak said. He said the spouses of Alzheimer's patients often die before the patients do because of the stress. Kosciak begins preparing for the Memory Ride's 62-mile course every spring by riding his bike to work. He pedals at up to 43 mph, and slowly increases the distance over time. "When you are riding a car, you are going by so fast that you can't see things around you," Kosciak said. But when cycling, he can stop by to appreciate the landscape and feel the wind on his face. And the six-hour ride gives him the opportunity to think about his father and other families who are dealing with the disease, he said. And he hopes researchers will find a cure that puts an end to their sufferings. "They can't do it without funding," Kosciak said. For more information about the Memory Ride, visit http://www.alz.org/MANH/.
Communication contact: |
Chapter Headquarters National Headquarters 24/7 Helpline: 1.800.272.3900 |
 |
|||||
