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ARMONK, N.Y. When Byram Hills High School junior Max Levys grandmother passed away two years ago after a battle with Alzheimers, Levy made a promise to help end the degenerative disease.
I vowed that she would not pass in vain, Levy said.
As a result Levy started the Growth and Awareness Group for Alzheimers (GAGA) at Byram Hills. Levy and his classmates raised more than $18,000 over the past few months as participants in the Walk To End Alzheimers in White Plains that took place last Sunday. Levy and 20 club members who participated in the walk raised the most money out of any team that participated. It was the second year in a row that the group participated in the walk. In 2011, the students raised more than $13,000 for the cause.
Levy said he knows you don't need to have Alzheimers to be affected by it and wishes more people would take the same vow he did.
More money is spent on Viagra research than on Alzheimers; almost twice as much, which is staggering. Its taking millions of lives and making millions more friends and relatives suffer, Levy said.
For his groups effort, Levy was asked to speak at the White Plains walk and share his story.
I told them my story, how my grandmothers disease had progressed and of her death, Levy said. Aside from raising money, this event is about all the people affected by Alzheimers, not just the victims, but their families and caregivers.
Byram Hills social studies teacher Julie Wilson, the faculty advisor for GAGA, said Byram Hills has been more than generous towards the group. Sophomore student Tori Cohen raised $4,000 alone, the most among all of the groups donors.
The support has been overwhelming, so many people have been affected by Alzheimers, Wilson said.
Although fundraising for the walk has concluded, the group continues to accept donations to help fight Alzheimers through their donation website.
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