On April 6, 2024, members of the YES! network came together at the Alzheimer Association Greater Maryland Chapter Memory Ball in Baltimore to support YES! Board Chair Shannon Hammond who performed as a dancer. All proceeds from this event fund supportive services of the Alzheimer’s Association and critical research for a cure. This year was especially meaningful because YES! Board Chair Shannon Hammond was performing to shine a light on younger-onset dementias.
The Memory Ball features local “Dancing Stars” in an evening of cocktails, dinner, music, and dance competition to raise funds for
their cause. Volunteering out of her passion and leadership with young-onset awareness and support, Shannon showed her talent and dedication, having practiced for months. It was an incredible display of talent, and amazing to see what the dancers could do. Shannon has shared her reasons for dancing widely, opening up about the difficult time when her mother was diagnosed with young-onset Lewy Body Dementia and subsequently moved in with Shannon, who became her primary caregiver. Read more about her personal story in her dancer’s page for the event.
Shannon had over 100 supporters who attended the Memory Ball for her specifically, which included members of her family, her friends, and members of the YES! board, team, and support groups. The women’s support group has always been a core of YES! participation and activity, and they were well represented.
Those involved in YES! all have a personal connection to young-onset dementia. Social Media Strategist for YES! Audra McShane was in attendance to support Shannon, and reflecting on her own experience with her mother, she had this to say: “It was an absolute honor to be invited to the 2024 Alzheimer’s Memory Ball and support the one and only Shannon Hammond. I watched Shannon work so hard to train for this event, her dedication is truly inspiring and without her and YES! our story would be different. This group has been there through each step of my mom’s progression, they have guided, educated, and connected us with others who can relate. The connections and opportunities I have been given through this organization are overwhelming. I now have a purpose.”
Glenn and Val Smith, a couple integral to YES! and heavily involved in support groups, were honored to be highlighted in the video shown at the event. Glenn has been a part of the Optimistics group which started off as a group of three affected men who met in a joint YES!/Alzheimer’s Association support group who needed socialization and friendship as they walked through their diseases together. They began having weekly video calls outside of regular support group meetings to support each other and spend time together. The Optimistics group has since expanded to ten regular attendees and has been impactful enough to catch the attention of local author Richie Frieman, who has written a book about this group, the journeys of their families, and how they hold on to optimism through it.
After their video was shown to the Memory Ball audience of over 900, Glenn and Val danced in person, a representation of who and what the fundraiser is there to support. While the Alzheimer’s Association is integral in the space of research and support for Alzheimer’s, there are still distinct gaps in services and understanding with the young-onset variation which presents uniquely, is more difficult to diagnose, and affects families in a very different stage of life. YES! strives to fill that gap, providing a personal connection to support individuals and families at any stage of their journey. Glenn and Val and everyone who has been where they are, are the reason YES! exists. They are our why.
“In the moment is where we choose to be, letting each day take care of itself. Building memories for our family’s future while allowing Glenn to enjoy each moment now.” – Val Smith
