A Walk for Papa:

Orange Teen to Walk 26 miles to Honor Grandfather with Alzheimer’s Disease

On June 20, when Talia Charnas and her mom walk around Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights and Orange, it will all be for one man – Eliot Charnas. The Orange teen is raising Alzheimer’s awareness and money for her beloved Papa, her grandfather who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Today, Mr. Charnas can only mumble a few words and say a couple of letters, she said. But Talia remembers and honors the grandparent who took her to Disney and taught her to drive a golf cart, fish and other things. She keeps a voicemail from her grandfather, so she can listen to his voice. “I carry him around all the time,” Talia said. “He is always there. There is a memory where I can hear his voice.” Saturday, June 20 is the summer solstice and The Longest Day®, which is a day of action for the Alzheimer’s Association. Thousands of participants will come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice – biking, hiking, playing bridge, swimming, knitting and more. Participants, like Talia, will raise critical awareness and funds to advance Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Talia and her mother plan to walk 26 miles and through pledges and donations have already raised $4,600 for the Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter. Talia, who is a junior at the Laurel School, said she was around 10 years old when her grandfather was diagnosed. “He and my Nana were the closest grandparents,” she said. “Watching him struggle piqued my interest in neurology and science. I see how it impacted him and how it impacts others when I visit him in the facility,” she said. She has been building her knowledge of Alzheimer’s ever since. In the eighth grade, she did a school project on Alzheimer’s disease. She’s also done a virtual dementia tour, a simulation that allows a person to experience what those living with the disease might experience. “It really put into perspective what those individuals go through. I wanted to try to fight for those currently living with the disease and those in the future.” She said now is the time to do something. “With a lot of reflection during the quarantine, family really matters. My Nana not being able to see him, that really brought it home that this needs to change,” she said.