Raising money to help others

With their walking shoes ready to go, Mary's Angels have found where there's a walk; there is a way to help a disease that has no cure.
For two of the angels, Karen and Barry Thompson of Owatonna, the mission is very personal. Karen's mother, Mary Behne, battled Alzheimer's for about six years before she died in 2012.
On Sunday, Sept. 19, Behne's family, which calls itself Mary's Angels, will be leading the Owatonna Alzheimer's Walk at the Steele County Fairgrounds. The Thompsons are coordinating the effort on behalf of their family, which includes about 40 members.
The Thompsons hope their efforts will eventually lead to a cure. Meanwhile, they are raising as much money as possible and hope to achieve this year's goal of $52,000. As of late last week, about $42,000 had been raised. Those interested in donating may do so at www.alz.org/walk.
In early August, Mary's Angels got a jump on the fundraising effort. They raised $7,100 at a fundraiser in Hayfield, where Behne lived for most of her life.
All the money raised goes to the Alzheimer's Association for research.
"I would love to have a cure, so our kids and grandkids don't have to go through this," said Barry Thompson. "It's hard on the family."
While there is no known cure, a new drug, Abucanumab, was recently introduced to help slow the progression of the disease.
The Thompsons said they feel like they lost their mother twice—first when she was battling Alzheimer's and again when she died. "She didn't know anyone for the last six months," Barry said. Behne was 78 when she died.
One of the troubling things the Thompsons experienced during Behne's battle was how some people, primarily adults, made fun of Alzheimer's patients. "They try to be smart and funny about it," Barry said. "If you haven't experienced it personally, you really don't know how bad it can get."
The Thompsons had no idea what they were in for when Behne was first diagnosed with Alzheimer's in about 2007. "We didn't know how serious it can be," Barry said.
"She just thought she was very forgetful and couldn't remember," Karen said about her mother. Barry also said Behne often commented, "I wish this thing would work (pointing to her head)."
The final six months became the greatest challenge for the family. "It was hard," Barry said. "She couldn't talk. She just sat there and stared at us."
Karen refused to stop visiting her mother. She went to the nursing home where Behne had been placed at least four or five times every week. "It was hard to go and see her," she said. "But I would just sit with her. It was so hard watching her be like that just sitting in a wheelchair."
Because Behne enjoyed listening to music, the family comforted her by putting a radio in her room. They also played games with her. "You have to keep their mind busy," Karen stressed.
Another tip Karen has for dealing with Alzheimer's is to always agree with the stricken family member. "Don't argue with them," she said.
According to the Thompsons, Alzheimer's is not just an older person's disease. They know of people as young as 40 who have the disease. "It can happen to anyone," Barry said.
There are no known causes of the disease, but the Thompsons have learned that one of the best defenses against it is keeping busy doing things. "You have to keep your mind active," Barry said.
Both Barry and Karen are involved with a local Alzheimer's Support Group to help other families going through the disease. "We don't know everything, but hopefully we can help them a little bit," Barry said.
With more awareness and money being raised in recent years, the Thompsons are hopeful that a cure is on the horizon.
"It amazes me that they found a cure for COVID-19 so quickly, but for other things, it takes years," Karen said. "I believe they will eventually find a cure."