I was still young when my grandpa Pete was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, too young to fully understand what the disease was taking from him. At the time, I only knew that something had changed. The man who had once seemed so familiar was slowly becoming harder to recognize. As my family navigated and shared that experience with our Rituals team - we realized it wasn't a unique experience. Alzheimer's doesn't only affect the person diagnosed. It ripples through entire families and communities. It slowly steals conversations, traditions, and shared memories while leaving loved ones to grieve someone who is still physically present. It is a long goodbye, filled with moments of hope, heartbreak, and unwavering devotion.

 

 

It became clear that this disease touches far more people than we had imagined and that we as a team needed to get involved.

 

Over the years our involvement grew from few heartfelt fundraising efforts into a tradition of compassion, creativity, and community. Our journey started with participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's, Sponsorship, encouraging staff, family, and guests to donate what they could. Donation jars at our front desk, percentage of sales days, and conversations about the impact of Alzheimer's disease helped build lasting support one person at a time.

 

As our team became more educated so did our fundraising efforts. We discovered that some of the most meaningful donations came from the talents and generosity of our own staff. Handmade blankets, hats, scarves, and handcrafted gifts became popular fundraising items. One year we even hosted a yard sale that brought our community together while giving new life to gently used treasures. For the past three years we have found a significant increase in our fundraising through an online silent auction of a variety, donated baskets, gift certificates, and local business contributions quickly became an annual favorite. Looking back, it's amazing to see how a few simple fundraising ideas have blossomed into a year-round commitment fueled by kindness, creativity, and purpose moving us one step closer to a world without Alzheimer's. 

 

 

 

To every guest, team member, volunteer, sponsor, and friend who has supported our mission over the years—thank you. Your generosity has made a lasting difference, and together, we'll continue walking, fundraising, and advocating until the day Alzheimer's is no more. We are incredibly proud that since the start of our partnership with The Alzheimer’s Association we have raised a total of $200,000+ to help find a cure, support caregivers, research, and those affected by the disease.
 

 

Please consider registering to walk with the Rituals Salon & Spa team, invite your family and friends to join you, make a donation if you're unable to attend and most importantly share our mission on social media to help spread awareness. Every step we take and every dollar we raise helps advance Alzheimer's research, provide care and support for families, and bring us closer to a world without this devastating disease.

 

Thank you for supporting our team, our community, and the fight to end Alzheimer's. Together, we can make a difference—one step at a time.