Forget Me Not
Friday May 15, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

At some point, nearly everyone’s life will be impacted by Alzheimer’s. As it is, 5.3 million Americans are currently living with the disease, and that number is expected to skyrocket as baby boomers enter their twilight years. Today it is the 6th leading cause of death in America.  These sobering statistics explain why members of the Alzheimer’s Associate New York Junior Committee devote so much of their time and energy raising funds for a cure. Which they did, with great aplomb, this week at the Collective Consciousness Gala.



Elizabeth Hasselbeck of The View has a life affected by the disease, and was honored to serve as the celebrity host for the event. She explained that her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago and that “it ripples through the entire family. The more we can do to get the word out, the better.”



Another notable champion for the organization has been the six time NFL All Star Terrell Owens. He became involved with the organization due to his grandmother’s condition. He remarked, “I am proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association as they educate people on the realities of Alzheimer’s disease so we can inspire enough support to stop it.”



The Meatpacking District hotspot Tenjune proved the perfect venue for the gala, as has been the case for the past few years. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if party promoter Micah Jesse, who was in attendance, might be attempting to shift the setting to Marquee in the future.



While the setting may have stayed the same, the silent auction items were some of the finest in recent memory. They included a personal shopping session at Saks with a $1000 gift card, a wine tasting for 35 people, and (my personal favorite) an Air Combat dog fighting session with fighter pilots. I was not nearly brave enough to bid on that one, but it will surely be a thrill for the fortunate bidder.



I was also pleased to see autographed copies of Still Alice – an excellent account of the struggles a woman undergoes with progressing Alzheimer’s – for sale. Lisa Genova, the author, had signed them all. This book can be most helpful in offering greater insight into the emotional toll of the disease.



The evening was especially well timed as it came on the eve of the HBO miniseries The Alzheimer’s Project. With many clinical trials underway, experts seem to agree that finding a cure is nearly a certainty – it’s only a question of when that time will come. The Junior Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association doubtless hopes that day will dawn very, very soon, and that we’ll all be able to cherish memories – like the night of the gala – well into our old age.