HANALEI — To celebrate the final paddle of Wendy Norcross and Frank Wattunen, an Ely, Minnesota couple, the Kauai team of the Alzheimer’s Association announced the launch of its “Save the Best for Last” fundraiser throughout April.
HANALEI — To celebrate the final paddle of Wendy Norcross and Frank Wattunen, an Ely, Minnesota couple, the Kauai team of the Alzheimer’s Association announced the launch of its “Save the Best for Last” fundraiser throughout April.
Local businesses and organizations are encouraged to donate creatively, such as giving the “last dollar of every sale,” or the “last ticket of the day,” and more.
“Wendy and Frank’s journey is filled with love, courage, lots of Aloha, and purpose,” said LJ Duenas, the executive director of Alzheimer’s Association-Hawaii. “They remind us that we are all connected in this fight to end Alzheimer’s.”
Following four years and 49 states, Wendy and Frank will dip their purple canoe into the waters of Kauai on Sunday to complete a heartfelt mission of paddling in all 50 states to honor Wendyu’s parents, both of whom died from dementia, and to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association and its work, which includes The Longest Day initiative, which encourages people to turn their passions into action in support of care, support, and research.
The couple’s final paddle will take place starting at 8 a.m. on the Hanalei River, where they will be joined by local families impacted by Alzheimer’s — including retired Maui firefighter and outrigger paddler Jim “Kimo” Knutson, who now lives on Kauai and is living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s.
The event is hosted by the Hanalei Canoe Club.
Contributions can be made online by visiting act.alz.org/goto/SaveTheBestForLastKauai.
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