The Alzheimer’s Association: Long-board skaters going across the country to increase awareness for Alzheimer’s disease with “A Push to Remember”

Contact:
Kari Paterson
Executive Director, South Central Wisconsin Chapter
Alzheimer’s Association
Ph: 608.203.8500
Cell: 608.287.8011
kpaterson@alz.org

SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL THROUGH MADISON, SUNDAY JULY 21-MONDAY JULY 22 [Madison, WI/Dane Co]

Madison, WIs. – If you have ever driven across the country on a family vacation, you know the time and energy that it takes to travel by car. Earlier this month a group of skateboarders left Newport Oregon on their way cross-country to New York to increase awareness and generate funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The long time skater and Push to Remember organizer, Jack Smith, recently lost his father to Alzheimer’s in October of 2012, spurring him to do more in support of the cause.

While the trip is impressive in itself, the motivation behind the journey is just as powerful. Skateboarding was always a close tie to Jack and his father. His father actually crafted his first skateboard. This was a special way that Jack could honor his father and do something that has been a lifelong passion. Even more impressive is that this is Jacks fifth time cross country, but the first time in support of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Why are they pushing their skateboards across America?

In October of 2012 Jack Smith’s father, and Dylan’s grandfather, Jack Smith, passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease. They are making this push in his honor and to raise awareness and $100,000 to help fund care, support and research in the fight against Alzheimer’s.

On July 4th, 2013, the five person team, ranging in age from 20 to 56 will come together to push their skateboards 3,000 miles from Newport, Oregon to New York City, New York in a little over three weeks.

A Push to Remember route:

After a ceremonial start in Morro Bay, California, the team will drive to our starting point in Newport, Oregon. Their route will take them through Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania And New York. Approximately three weeks and 3,000 miles later they will arrive in New York City, New York. If they follow their schedule, they should arrive to the Madison area by Sunday July 21 or Monday July 22nd. To cover more distance in less time they will use a relay system when we are skating.

If traveling across the country is not in your personal training plans for the summer, consider participating in some local awareness activities, such as the Alzheimer’s Association’s short two mile walk by the lake coming in September. To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Association’s walk, visit: alz.org/walk.

Follow a Push to Remember’s route here: http://www.apushtoremember.com/#!theroute/c66t

A bit of long distance skateboarding and popular culture history:

In 2003, Jack Smith skateboarded across America as part of the Skateboarding Across America – On Board for Lowe Syndrome team. Lowe Syndrome is an extremely rare syndrome that claimed the life of Jack’s oldest son, Jack Marshall Smith in May of 2003. The team of Jack, Nick Krest, Scott Kam, Josh Maready established a new world record of 21 days.

In 1984 Paul Dunn, Bob Denike, Gary Fluitt and Jack broke the world skateboard distance record by skating across America in 26 days, six days faster than the first transcontinental skateboard crossing in 1976. The 1976 push was made by Jack, Jeff French, Mike Filben. The 1984 trip is also the answer to a question in the 20th Anniversary Edition of Trivial Pursuit.

About Alzheimer’s disease and the Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death. As baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today’s more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s – the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.