By Stephen Hunt - Red Line Editorial LauraLee Denler started delivering newspapers at 13 years old so she could save up for a tennis racquet.
Racquets have been a big part of Denler’s life since then. After first playing tennis, she picked up racquetball in college. Two years ago, Denler began playing pickleball, which came after she received a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s — a name given to anyone diagnosed under age 65.
Pickleball is only one of various activities which helps Denler stay active, a list also including cycling, hot yoga, and kayaking. One thing she loves about those activities is the strong sense of community she feels while participating.
“It becomes — not in a bad way, in a good way — very addictive. You just want more of it,” Denler said.
Denler is one of the first storytellers of This is ALZ, a campaign that highlights the stories of people living with the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s and to show that their diagnosis only represents one part of their lives.
HealthyWomen, an award-winning website for its efforts to educate and inform women about health issues which they could face at any age, launched the campaign back in May.
“The origin was there are newer treatment options for people diagnosed and/or living with early stages of Alzheimer’s. What we found was things were completely different in the 80s,”
said Beth Battaglino, a longtime registered nurse and CEO of HealthyWomen. “We just didn’t know, and then the 90s is when we saw more advancements. We started hearing about family histories, more prevention, and mammograms. Today, there’s actually a test you can take to find out if you might have Alzheimer’s.”
Battaglino is an avid pickler, so Denler’s story resonated quickly with her.
“She (Denler) is living with the earlier stages of Alzheimer’s and she’s out on the court competing, laughing, and connecting with other players,” Battaglino said. “That’s the whole secret sauce of pickleball, it’s connecting, it’s laughing and you’re outside or you could be inside, and you’re having a great time.
“Beyond her story, pickleball itself is genuinely a good fit. It’s social. It’s not difficult. It keeps your mind working and staying active and staying connected, it matters a lot for brain health. It gets you moving, puts you in community with people who show up for each other, right? That community is strong. It provides a purpose, provides that activity, it’s the community that supports. It’s just another community that can support.”
And having a wide range of activities to not only stay physically active but mentally sharp has numerous benefits for those diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s.
Denler keeps herself busy with a variety of activities.
“I’m hiking. I’m biking. I have a great biking group,” she said. “Kayaking is right up there right now. There’s just so many interests that I have, gardening, getting my hands nice and dirty. Snowshoeing (I have done) but I have been cross-country skiing in the past. I’ve tried downhill but I’m just afraid of the ski lifts. I don’t like the height aspect.”
The tagline of This is ALZ is: Knowing early. Living intentionally. For Battaglino, having passionate storytellers like Denler who have taken this message to heart shows just how much impact this initiative has already delivered.
“We wanted to start an education program, an initiative to raise awareness about people that have been tested, received a diagnosis, and now, how are they living their lives? For them and the people we’re working with, they will say it’s their best life,” Battaglino said. “They’re living their best version right now because they are able to make decisions on how they want to live now and then as the disease progresses.”
“This is a campaign to educate, elevate, and raise awareness about early Alzheimer’s. It’s an opportunity to show you people that have gotten the test and how they’re living their lives. And what it does is it provides hope and provides positivity, it provides light and it provides education and resources not only for the patient, but the people that are around them whether it’s family, a significant other, or friends, it provides them with information and resources that harness that support."
For more information, visit This is ALZ’s
website.
Stephen Hunt is an accomplished freelance writer and sports statistician who has been blessed to cover a multitude of subjects and sports in his time. He is a freelance contributor to USA Pickleball on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc. 
