Capel Champions Alzheimer’s Cause with Lapel Pin
Oklahoma City – University of Oklahoma men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel is more than just a coach. He is leading the fight against a deadly disease.
A year after participating in a statewide awareness campaign for the Alzheimer’s Association, Capel is now wearing his support for all to see. During each game in the 2010-11 hoops season, the fourth-year leader of the Sooner basketball nation is wearing the Alzheimer’s Association logo on his jacket lapel.
“A small percentage of people truly understand the reality of Alzheimer’s disease and the devastation it leaves in its wake,” executive vice president Mark Fried said. “If we’re ever going to get out in front of this escalating epidemic, it is a must to raise public awareness. Coach Capel’s willingness to visibly support our Cause is a tremendous opportunity to heighten knowledge about how far the disease reaches.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Disease 2009 Facts & Figures, approximately 74,000 Oklahomans have Alzheimer’s disease – a number that would fill up Lloyd Noble Center more than six times. It is the seventh-leading cause of death in our country and one in eight Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association logo depicts a person’s profile next to a laboratory beaker. Its mission states a commitment to advancing research, enhancing support for all affected and promoting brain health. The underlying message of the logo is that the organization is about people and science.
A common myth about Alzheimer’s is that it is a normal part of aging or that it is simply a memory loss disease. In fact, Alzheimer’s causes the brain to atrophy as brain cells die. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s and there is no treatment that can stop the progression.
“We often hear people make jokes about Alzheimer’s and that’s probably because of a lack of understanding for what the disease really is,” Fried said. “It is our hope that Coach Capel’s lapel pin will encourage conversation about the issue, which will inevitably reduce the negative stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s.
“Coach is a true Champion for our mission and we are proud that he is on our team.”
The Alzheimer’s Association provides a 24-hour Helpline (800-272-3900), support groups, education programs, care consultations, and information and referral.
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