There are over 180,000 people living with Dementia in North Carolina and these numbers are expected to increase to 210,000 by the year 2025. Caregivers for individuals with dementia are a rapidly growing sector of our older population. In NC, an estimated 358,000 dementia caregivers are providing 517 million hours of unpaid care each year. This is why Dementia Alliance of North Carolina focuses all of our efforts locally and offer insight, compassionate support, and assistance to those who are living with or caring for individuals throughout all stages and types of dementia. As many of your know this disease is personal for me. My mother, Nita, was diagnosed in 2021 just a few months after my dad, Bill, died suddenly of complications from a stroke. I saw first hand what this disease does to our loved ones and the toll it takes on their community. I am incredibly grateful the support I received from other care givers and community members who had themselves been touched by this awful disease. I hope you will join me in raising money to support research for a cure, support for those living with Dementia and support for the care partners who do the heavy lifting day in and day out.