SOMERVILLE, MA (April 12, 2016) — Leslie Hergert of Somerville joined over 1200 other advocates from across the nation in Washington D.C., at the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum on April 4-6.
“I wanted to participate in Advocacy forum to advocate for research and services,” said Hergert whose husband Ralph was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s before he turned 60 years old.
The Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum seeks to educate members of Congress about the impact of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. At the forum, Hergert attended seminars on Alzheimer policy issues, networked with advocates across the country and had the opportunity to share her personal story on Capitol Hill with local members of Congress.
“The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading advocate for federal Alzheimer’s disease research funding and caregiver support,” said Austin Hodge, Manager of Public Policy for the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter. “We cannot make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s without passionate advocates like Leslie.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the only disease in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed. In 2015, more than 15 million caregivers provided an estimated 18.1 billion hours of unpaid care.
To learn more about advocacy opportunities with the Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter visit alz.org/MANH.
About the Alzheimer’s Association:
The Alzheimer Association provides services and programs for those with Alzheimer’s, family and professional caregivers in the form of support groups, a 24/7 Helpline, care consultation, advocacy efforts, and education programs. The Alzheimer’s Association is also the world’s leading nonprofit funder of research into causes, treatments and, someday, a cure. For more information about Alzheimer programs, visit alz.org/MANH or call 800.272.3900