Alzheimer's Association

"Hope is huge. It’s the very thing that holds you together."

Pam Hull of Otsego, Minnesota knew something wasn’t right. A nurse by training, she recognized the signs when she began struggling to follow conversations. "I was ashamed and told Randy, 'something's really wrong with me.'" After a spinal tap confirmed the presence of Alzheimer’s proteins, Pam received her diagnosis in 2021.

It was devastating. Pam had built a career helping others, and suddenly, she had to step away from everything. But she didn’t give up. "You cry when you get the diagnosis and you maybe feel really sad for a while, but then you come back and say, okay, I can walk this."

Pam and her husband Randy have made changes to their lives, but they continue to face each day with hope and joy. They walk together—literally and figuratively—participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Brainerd and staying active with their dog Tucker. Randy participates in a caregiver support group. Pam now serves as a National Early-Stage Advisor for the Alzheimer’s Association, helping others navigate their own journeys.

"Hope is huge. It’s the very thing that holds you together," Pam says. "I have to live here with it, so I might as well enjoy it. Find joy in it."

Your gift helps families like Pam and Randy’s access the resources they need to live well with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. When you give to the Alzheimer’s Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter, you:

• Support our free 24/7 Helpline, available in more than 200 languages

• Fund support groups for caregivers and those in early stages of the disease

• Provide no-cost education classes to your local community

• Advance critical research into diagnosis, treatment and prevention

• Advocate for legislation that improves care and accelerates progress in advancing research, new treatments and screenings for the disease  

Your generosity ensures that no one walks the journey alone. Whether you give in honor of someone you love, or simply because you believe in a future without Alzheimer’s, your support matters.

Donate today at a level that’s meaningful to you.

Together, we walk. Together, we give. Together, we lead the way to ending Alzheimer’s.