Her mother's illness inspired Harvard resident to get involved

Katy Holland (Courtesy photos)

Katy Holland's Sanka ad.

Katy Holland arrives at a Sadie Hawkins dance with date in tow.

Nine years ago, lifelong Harvard resident Kit Holland discovered she was about to become a parent. Unfortunately, it was not to a child, but to her mother Katy.

Katy, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, lived alone. Kit, who was the only relative that lived nearby, instantly became her mother's main caregiver.

Kit knew how ravaging Alzheimer's disease was because she had witnessed her grandmother battle the disease as well. Fortunately for the family, who had settled in Harvard in 1959, they had overwhelming support from town residents.

In the early stages of the disease, Katy's friends included her in activities, ran errands with her, stopped by to check in on her, and kept notes about changes they noticed in her behavior. And, there were a few times they assisted in locating her when she had wandered off.

Kit said she couldn't have done it without the help of her mother's friends.

"They taught me the real meaning of community," she said.

For Kit, the journey her mother took through her illness was distressing to watch. Her mother had always been her "superhero," Kit said.

"My Aunt Taffy recalled a phrase my mom used to use: 'hot damn!'" Kit said. "I think that pretty much covered her approach to life—irrepressibly forthright and high-spirited. She embraced everything she did with unfailing enthusiasm and fearlessness. In college, she loved downhill ski racing. As a new mom, she took up motorcycle riding, and at age 66, tried her hand at skydiving."

Katy Holland lived with Alzheimer's for 10 years and died in 2008.

The community support she and her mother received inspired Kit to make a commitment to helping others afflicted by Alzheimer's, she said. Kit now uses the experiences she had with her mother to educate others about Alzheimer's disease.

She has developed an informative lecture and presentation that she gives to community outreach organizations. Currently, she is a member of the Greater Boston Walk to End Alzheimer's planning committee. The walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. It has generated more than $347 million to fight the disease since 1989.

Events are held annually in the fall in nearly 600 communities nationwide. There are 12 walks in the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hamphire chapter, of which Greater Boston is the largest.

Kit has been participating in the walk for seven years. In 2009, she organized a team of walkers from MIT Lincoln Laboratories where she works. Over the last three years, the team has raised more than $36,000.

This year, the Walk to End Alzheimer's will be held on Sunday, Sept. 25. Registration begins at 9 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m. There is a six-mile "Spirit Walk" and 2-mile "Hope Walk" along the Charles River, beginning and ending at Canal Park behind the CambridgeSide Galleria in Cambridge. For more information about the event contact the Alzheimer's Association Massachusetts/New Hampshire chapter at alzwalkMANH@alz.org or 617-393-2050.

Kit Holland, who is just shy of her team goal of $15,000, said she would like to assemble a team from Harvard next year. Anyone interested in contributing to or joining her team can contact her at http://alzwalk.kintera.org/greaterboston/kit or at kitholland@ll.mit.edu.