Area teachers raise money for Alzheimer’s research

The Alpha Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa participated in the June 21 Longest Day event to raise money for Alzheimer’s research.

The Alpha Epsilon Chapter, of which Lisa Aglietti is current president, is comprised of 33 women educators who are actively teaching or are retired from teaching. The active teachers serve in Horry County schools.

“Sisters raised $1,000 and participated in activities to honor family and friends who have fought this terrible disease,” said Georgianna Keller, a Maryland retiree.

Sisters chose activities that they love to do since Alzheimer’s robs one of such activities, Keller said. Several sisters and family members walked a mile around the lake at Market Common, while others met for food and fellowship. Some spent the day with their families sharing stories of loved ones and some visited loved ones in nursing homes.

This Longest Day event was a statewide effort to raise money for Alzheimer’s research with sisters in different chapters participating.

Keller said the sisters of Alpha Epsilon were proud to join the S.C. State Alpha Delta Kappa team named Together We Can to show that together we can stop this terrible disease.

The state’s goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of August.

Most of those participating or donating did so in honor or memory of someone who suffered, or is still suffering, with Alzheimer’s. Keller walked in memory of her “Aunt Betty,” who died in February from the disease.

The Alpha Epsilon chapter was founded 43 years ago. Pat Pierce is the only charter member that is still active.

Whether the sisters are still actively teaching or not, they are busy helping their communities and the world in many different ways. Some tutor local children who need their help for varied reasons, including illness that keeps then out of school. Some, like Cookie Goings, volunteer their time at Hope House and other local outreaches. Some, like Ginny Simmons -- retired but not quitting -- go halfway around the world or more to teach children. Last year, she went to Cambodia, this Fall she plans to go to Moldova.

Speaking about how far teachers sometimes go to help their students understand, Keller recalled Eleanor Schiller’s project to help students at the Chabad Jewish Academy understand how many children were murdered in the Holocaust. Eleanor’s husband, Hugo Schiller, lost his parents and came very close to being one of those children. Much has been written about his life. At least one sister teacher invites him each year to speak to students about his experiences.

In 1997, Eleanor’s Butterfly Project not only educated her students and a community that saw millions of paper butterflies fluttering in the wind, it caught the attention of local and national media, and people in many other countries.

During their last meeting, the sisters visited the Holocaust memorial in Market Common. With an inscribed butterfly on it, it will always remind those who saw Eleanor’s field of brightly painted butterflies of the children who never had a chance to live and learn.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Area teachers raise money for Alzheimer’s research."