The Great Americans Alzheimer’s Awareness Photo Exhibit is coming to the Lady Lake Public Library at 225 W. Guava Street in Lady Lake.
The exhibit, which opens Friday, Jan. 17, features large framed portraits on canvas of 24 famous American artists, musicians, athletes, actors, politicians and authors who have succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. Its purpose is to deliver the message that no one is immune to the disease that now affects more than 6 million Americans and their families. It is estimated that as many as 9,000 people in Lake County alone are living with dementia.
The exhibit is an educational initiative of the Alzheimer’s Family Organization (AFO), a non-profit charity that provides services and support for caregivers of individuals living with dementia in eight west-Central Florida counties, including Lake County.
“Our intention is to spread the word that Alzheimer’s has become the disease of our time, killing more Americans than breast and prostate cancer combined,” said Kathleen Winters, executive director of the AFO. “It is a disease that has no boundaries and affects every level of our society. Because there currently is no cure, we must focus on better care.”
Winters said the exhibit has been viewed by more than a quarter-million people at public libraries in Citrus, Marion and Hernando Counties; and now Lake County.
The Lady Lake Public Library is open 9 to 7 on Mondays, 9 to 6 Tuesday through Friday, and closed Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, call 352-753-2957 or go to www.mylakelibrary.org.
For more information about the Alzheimer’s Family Organization, call 352-616-0170 or go to www.alzheimersfamily.org.