CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Pauline's Posse raising awareness, money for Alzheimer's

Cumberland Times-News - 6/21/2017

June 21--CUMBERLAND -- There's nothing Pauline's Posse wouldn't do for their mom.

"My mom was the type of person that would do anything for anyone," said Pam College, Pauline House's daughter, "and this is just our way of paying her back and taking care of people the way she did."

When House was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2009 -- a chronic neurodegenerative disease affecting more than 5 million individuals nationwide -- her four children created Pauline's Posse as a way to help raise awareness and collect funding for research for the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

"We're doing this to find out what causes (Alzheimer's) and eventually find a cure," said House's son, Mike College.

Pauline's Posse -- Pam College, Doug College, Steve College and Mike College -- will host a golf tournament on June 21 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Rocky Gap Casino Resort, with all money raised going to the Alzheimer's Association.

Steve College said he knows finding a cure before House passes is unlikely, but helping those whose loved one is struggling with the disease is important.

"We know there's not going to be a cure prior to mom passing away, we know that," he said. "But if we can help another family not go through what we are going through, it makes it all worthwhile."

Now living at the Country House in Cumberland, a memory care facility specializing in Alzheimer's patient care, House finds comfort in her children's visits.

"She doesn't know who we are," said Pam College, "but there's that familiarity that she exhibits towards us and that comfort that she feels when she sees us, knowing that we are someone familiar and that she loves us."

June 21 is the Alzheimer's Association's official day of awareness for the disease, also know as the "longest day" due to the Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year marks Alzheimer's awareness because of the disease's link to dementia. According to Pauline's son, Mike College, the longest day could be the equivalent of only five minutes to someone with Alzheimer's.

"It's a global event," he said. "We are not the only one's doing it."

The cost to register a foursome in the golf tournament is $500 and sponsoring a hole is $100. Those unable to attend are asked to make a donation at paulinesposse.com.

Follow staff writer Heather Wolford on Twitter @heatherbwolford.

___

(c)2017 the Cumberland Times News (Cumberland, Md.)

Visit the Cumberland Times News (Cumberland, Md.) at times-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Nationwide News