Forget-Me-Not

For my platform as Miss Black South Carolina USA 2011 I have chosen Alzheimer's disease Awareness. I believe that this a disease that is overlooked in general, but especially by my generation. As a young person it's sometimes easy to forget about the older generation of baby boomers and their needs; which is why I saw this as the perfect fit for my platform.
 

By selecting Alzheimer's disease Awareness as my platform I knew that I would be able to work closely with various organizations to bring awareness to the disease, raise funds for research, and educate others while also learning more about it myself. Already with less than three months of working very closely with the South Carolina Alzheimer's Association I have been able to learn so much about the services that are available to those affected by this disease.

Volunteering at The Welcome Wagon Conference held by the Midlands Chapter of the SC Alzheimer's Association. AT this conference for caregivers, attendees learn more about resources available to them and their loved one. 

What a great turn out they had!

One thing that few people know is that my paternal Grandmother has Alzheimer's disease. That is a large part about why advocating for this cause is so important to me. I want to be able to better understand what she is experiencing while also learning about the services available for her and the rest of my family. This disease is extremely difficult for people to accept, deal with, and talk about; you're watching someone that you have known your entire life transform before your eyes while you disappear from their memories.

It is my personal mission as well as for my title that I do whatever I can to assist with this great cause! I have some great opportunities coming up where I'm volunteering and working closely with the South Carolina Alzheimer's Association. One in particular that I'm very excited about is their upcoming Forget-Me-Not Balls!! At each of the four balls happening across South Carolina there is going to be an auction, dancing, food, and fun all for an extremely deserving cause! I'll be participating in three of the four balls - what an honor!

In the Grand Strand and Charleston Balls I will be presenting the Caregiver Awards which are nominated by people from those areas. For the Midlands Ball I am "Dancing for the Stars" with Lexington County Sheriff James Metts. There are ten teams and each team has a fund raising goal of $2,500. Click here to vote for me and Sheriff Metts and help us win while also helping to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. 


xoxoJordan Addison, Miss Black South Carolina USA 2011