Actors and Artists Unite to End Alz Launches 7th Year; Over $200,000 Raised

"Yes, we did it! It's truly amazing." marveled Nancy Daly, AA Unite Founder and National Team Captain. "We are starting our 7th year as the national team for artists in the Walk to end Alzheimer's which is sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association- the only non-corporate all volunteer national team as well. It all began in May of 2011 with "Gang- I have this idea . . ." and now- here we are. 35 teams so far in 2017- Providence, Buffalo, St. Louis, Charleston, Atlanta, Twin Cities, Chicago, New York, Washington DC- we have teams in Texas, Connecticut, Utah- up and down the coasts of Florida and California.

The team is so grateful to all of you who have walked, supported, cheered and shared the story of this wonderful group of artists- "There's this team- there's this national actors' team- Actors and Artists Unite. You have to join the actors' team!" This team is made up of true champions- every year, they reach out to raise awareness and support and they walk- year after year. They are my lighthouse and I am so lucky and so grateful to be their captain. It's my honor.

The team walks to honor our own loved ones and to honor every gifted artist that we lost this year including Glen Campbell. I was filming a movie about Alzheimer's when Mike- a member of our NYC team- texted me that he had died. And the world stopped- oh, no. His courage and honesty of the struggles of living with Alzheimer's were riveting and heartbreaking as well. He died on August 8th- and the very next day- we reached the goal of over $200,000 raised since 2011. I feel as if he has passed the torch of valor to all of us and we- AA Unite- we are going to run with it. A world without Alzheimer's, a cure in our lifetime. That is our dream and that is our goal.

Come join in- all are welcome. You can join an existing team or start your own under our national team name in any city that has a Walk to end Alzheimer's. I love that! It gives people a chance to have a team with a name that means something to them and their friends and family- it gives everyone a chance to lead, to rally and walk to honor a loved one which is such a beautiful legacy.