This article was printed on page 3 of the Fall 2011 issue of the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Dallas Chapter Newsletter. The article features three children with the common goal of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. 

The fight against Alzheimer’s can be a very daunting one. The statistics of the disease’s impact can be enough to dampen even the brightest spirits. Thankfully, there are still those who believe that even the smallest action can make a difference.

Over the past few months, the Alzheimer’s Association has been fortunate to encounter three such believes. And not one of them is over the age of ten.

First, there was Claire Greenman. On the morning of her tenth birthday, she woke up like most kids do on their birthdays- she was excited. Her excitement, however, wasn’t due to the anticipation of opening her birthday presents or eating her birthday cake. She was excited to be helping someone she loves.

Rather than wanting a typical ten-year-old birthday party, Clair asked to host a lemonade fundraiser in honor of her grandfather who has Alzheimer’s. She was able to raise $800 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

We also met brothers Thomas and Jackson Giddens, who are ten and eight years old. After deciding to host a lemonade stand, the boys came up with the idea to give the money they made to a charity. It didn’t take them long to find one that was close to their hearts.

“We talked as a family and decided since Alzheimer’s was near and dear to us that it would be a very small easy to help raise funds and teach my boys a wonderful lesson,” says the pair’s mother, Diane Giddens, whose father has Alzheimer’s.

It’s a lesson Thomas has received loud and clear.

“You have to be patient with your grandparents. Since my papa has [Alzheimer’s], he forgets all this stuff. So whenever he needs help, I am just there to help him,” he says.

The Giddens family was able to raise over $1,300 for the Alzheimer’s Association of Great Dallas.

What Claire, Thomas and Jackson all have in common goes beyond having a loved one with Alzheimer’s. They share an understanding and awareness that no effort is too small and that every little bit counts.

It can be so easy to attribute their hopefulness to their age, or lack thereof. Maybe, it’s time for each one of us to reconnect with the hopeful, optimistic child inside and start to change the world, one cup of lemonade at a time.