Reaching New Heights for Alzheimer’s Research
Their names are scrawled on a white, nylon flag that he keeps tucked inside his climbing pack. Family members. Friends. Loved ones. Each of them representing one life cut short by Alzheimer’s disease. When Scott Talmage reached the summit of Mount Rainier in Washington state during the summer of 2010, he and his team of climbers weren’t alone. They carried with them memories of these individuals, and a collective desire to help end the suffering—for good.
Scott’s quest is a personal one. Three of his grandparents struggled with Alzheimer’s or dementia. He saw first-hand how the illnesses affected his loved ones, and his family as a whole. A passionate climber, he decided to combine something that he loved with a cause he is passionate about, in hopes of making a difference.
In 2010, Scott and fellow climber Nick Schultz established the Alzheimer’s Ascent Fund to support research efforts. Scott’s goal—to help find a cure for the illnesses that stole his loved ones, long before they were physically gone.
“We’ve got to start small and grow,” Scott said of the fund. “Growth is essential before we find efficient programs to support. Funding of research that will hopefully make a difference—that’s the real goal.”
