Eliza’s grandfather Philip loved fishing, hunting, boating and spending time with his family. When it was time for her to choose her Bat Mitzvah project, 12-year-old Eliza knew she wanted to honor his memory. Having seen the impact of LBD on her family – especially her grandmother, who became Philip’s care partner – she organized a dance-a-thon to raise money for LBDA.
Through her grandfather’s LBD journey, Eliza came to understand the complex symptoms of LBD and how much help individuals living with Lewy, their families, and care partners need. “I’ve learned that Lewy body dementia affects much more than memory. It can impact movement, thinking, emotions, and everyday activities,” says Eliza. “I’ve also learned how important support and education are for families and caregivers because the disease affects everyone around the person who has it.”
For Eliza, organizing her “Dance for a Cause” community fundraising event felt like the perfect way to honor her grandfather and help other families affected by LBD. “I love dancing,” she explains, “and I wanted to create something that would bring people together.” The event was a success, and Eliza believes that “my grandfather would have loved seeing so many people having fun while supporting a cause that was important to our family.”
As one of LBDA’s youngest-ever fundraisers, Eliza found that supporting the organization was incredibly rewarding. “I know the money raised can help people today while also supporting research that could help families in the future,” she explains. “It’s exciting to think that our efforts might contribute to making life better for others.”
