We all have a reason to end Alzheimer's.
Ours is a story familiar to so many families. Every 67 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's and there are currently 5 million Americans living with this disease. There are over 15 million caregivers that offer their unpaid support of these individuals, most of them spouses, children and grandchildren. Everyone knows someone with Alzheimer's. Below you'll find our story and the reason we decided to start the Ann & Raymond Gath Memorial Foundation.
-Bryan & Kelly Bylica, Founders-
Growing up, we were blessed by the strong and steady presence of four grandparents in our lives: Ray & Ann Gath and Marian & Maria Bylica. As we have grown older, their remarkable lives, and the indelible impression they each left on our lives, have become more apparent to us. We created the Ann & Raymond Gath Foundation as our way of continuing the ideals they so strongly represented.
A survivor of the Holocaust and the repercussions following World War II, Grandma Bylica came alone to the United States from Poland with nothing but the desire for a new life. As a young woman, she met and fell in love with our grandfather and together they began a 50 year year marriage filled with immeasurable love and joy, despite the hardships of being immigrants in a new country. She quickly learned English and devoted her life to the service of others. When we came along, her kind spirit quickly endeared her to all of the neighborhood kids and her presence as the “Grandma-in-Residence” was affirmed. Several years ago, she began her fight with Alzheimer’s Disease. Along the way, she maintained her positive outlook and caring ways. Her incredible strength and spirit was evident until, in 2010, she lost her battle with Alzheimer’s. The Maria Bylica Memorial Fund was established later that year in an effort to provide funding for research that is aimed at finding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.
Grandma Gath was a product of the Women’s Air Force and her feisty “can-do” attitude, drive and work ethic taught us and everyone around us the power of hard work and the great rewards one can reap from that work. Another constant presence in our lives, Grandma Gath always found a way to lend a helping hand and journeyed through life with a keen sense of humor. She also fought hard against this terrible disease and lost her battle in 2005.
We also developed this foundation to recognize the two incredible gentlemen who loved and cared for our grandmothers through this terrible disease. Alzheimer’s does not just touch the life of the diagnosed, but also the family and, most especially, the spouse. The incredible way both of our grandfathers stood by with their hearts of gold taught us the true meaning of unconditional love.
Together we have raised thousands of dollars in the fight to cure Alzheimers. This has been a wonderful journey for us and we thank each and everyone of you for your generosity and support.
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