Plymouth Senior Facility Raises Money for Alzheimer’s Research
A familiar face was in Plymouth on Wednesday bringing outdoor stories, laughter, and raising money for a debilitating disease.
Ron Schara made an appearance at Trillium Woods senior living center. And no, his dog Raven did not come with.
“Everybody wants to see the dog – nobody wants to see me,” Schara said. “But I’ll tell you something ladies. What? The checks come to me.”
Schara’s visit wasn’t only at Trillium for a chat over lunch. He was the senior living center to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Just one distant relative,” of Schara’s had Alzheimer’s, he said. “I said hello, she said hello to me. ‘Nice to see you Ron.’ And five minutes later, she said, ‘Oh, it’s nice to see you Ron.'”
Ron Schara speaks at an Alzheimer’s Association fundraiser at Trillium Woods senior living center.
More than six million Americans have the brain disease.
“It’s such a tragic disease that even if you don’t have direct knowledge of it, you know it’s tragic,” Schara said.
Residents at Trillium Woods aren’t strangers to the difficulties that come with Alzheimer’s.
“My wife has Alzheimer’s and she’s probably in the earlier stages of it right now,” said Rick Weathermon. He and his wife have lived at Trillum Woods since 2015.
“It just takes a lot of patience, and a lot of time with her, and making sure that she can get all the things done that she needs to do,” Weathermon said. “But she’s a lovely woman and she’s more than worth it.”
Fundraising opportunities like this one mean more to him than just a chance to listen and socialize.
“It’s always been worthwhile because I have my wife in the game,” he said. “It’s very, very worthwhile.”
A representative of Trillum Woods said their goal is to raise $25,000 this year.
Weathermon said he’s hopeful new drugs can treat Alzheimer’s as it progresses, or that researchers can ultimately find a cure. But, he’s also prepared for an emotional future with his wife.
“We have talked to the doctors and they have been very, very helpful in letting us know what might be ahead,” he said. “And so we’ve prepared for that.”
Until then, a big name in outdoor entertainment — minus his star dog — helped families like the Weathermons find some laughs.
“We thought it would be very, very important to kind of hear the stories that he considered important because we knew he’d bring his top stuff,” Weathermon added.
