The Alzheimer's Association, Long Island Chapter is holding their Spring Gala 2002 to support the Memories in the Making Program on June 13.

Memories in the Making is a program in which individuals with Alzheimer's disease express themselves through painting. It demonstrates that even after individuals have lost the ability to communicate verbally they can express themselves in concrete thoughts and beautiful pictures through painting.

Participants meet weekly under the guidance of an experienced artist and are encouraged to express themselves. Over time, a body of work can be collected into an art exhibit and auction. It is a show that tells the story and highlights the human beings who have lost their voice to Alzheimer's disease. Memories artists are memory-impaired Alzheimer patients with mild to severe dementia. They are men and women from diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life.

Memories in the Making began as a public awareness program in 1987 in the Orange County California Chapter by then board member Selly Jenny, the daughter of an Alzheimer's patient and an artist who saw the value of using art with dementia patients. She felt it gave the patients a voice in a way unlike any other. Memories is an art session that allows the outside world to connect with the person within the disease. Research shows that the process of non-verbal expression through color and line can be a natural process for Alzheimer patients. They may have difficulty with words, however words aren't necessarily in the art.

Jenny led the Orange County Chapter to form some art groups and the paintings were first pulled together in show and auction in 1987 as a fundraiser for the chapter. Jenny wrote a book Memories in the Making to be used as a manual because it was so well-received. As the leader in this new endeavor, the Orange County Chapter published 2,500 copies, which sold through word of mouth to staff, chapter offices and families.

Over the past 13 years, the ideas in Jenny's book have inspired some professionals and families to try to paint with individuals as a way to encourage expression. A handful of chapter offices across the country have initiated Memories in the Making as a program within the chapter. With much success, they have secured funding and began painting in groups in nursing home and adult day programs.

This program has been known to return a sense of pride and dignity to the participants and reminds the families that the essence of whom their loved one is after Alzheimer's has stripped them of so much.

The Alzheimer's Association's June 13 gala will feature an art exhibit with selected pieces of art made by Alzheimer's patients. Memories takes approximately 18 months from inception to completion, which allows sufficient time for the Alzheimer artists to create their artwork.

The ongoing purpose of the Memories in the Making exhibit is to provide an opportunity for the Alzheimer's patient's work to be seen and their "voice" to be heard by the public and bring new insight into an acceptance and education of the disease.

The June 13 gala will honor hockey great Rod Gilbert and his wife Judy. Rod is the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award. The gala, which will be held at Chateau Briand, will feature entertainment by the New York City Swing Band and will include a silent and live auction. Individual tickets are $200. Cocktail hour begins at 7 and the dinner is from 8 - midnight at this black-tie event.

There are over 50,000 Long Islanders who suffer with the effects of Alzheimer's disease. In this millennium, Alzheimer's disease will rob millions of Americans of their memories and become epidemic. Individuals are living longer and statistics show that over 50 percent of people over 85 will experience Alzheimer's. This is a staggering cost to the economy and the Long Island community.

"The Memories in the Making Gala has been very instrumental in the past in raising awareness about Alzheimer's Disease," said Cynthia Powers, director of development at the Alzheimer's Association Long Island Chapter. "We hope the gala is a huge success this year like it has been in the past. The artwork that the artists create is not only therapeutic, but also beautiful."

The Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is able to offer many important programs and services and is dedicated to research for the cure and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Their mission is to offer support for all Alzheimer's patients and their families through times that often leave families drained emotionally and financially.

For more information call Cynthia Powers at the Alzheimer's Association Long Island Chapter at 631-580-5100.