Danielle Micale of Milltown earned the title of Mrs. Northeast International 2014 by highlighting Alzheimer’s disease in honor of her late grandmother, Mildred McLaughlin. PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE MICALE MILLTOWN — A beauty is working in various ways to slay a deadly beast.
Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in America and the only one in the Top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or slowed.
That is why Danielle Micale — whose grandmother Mildred McLaughlin passed away from the disease in 2007 — campaigns on raising awareness of the disease through different avenues.
One of Micale’s biggest drivers in advocacy has been beauty pageants, which she began participating in eight years ago.
Last year, Micale participated in the Mrs. International Pageant in Jacksonville, Florida, to highlight her mission to raise awareness and help those with Alzheimer’s.
She earned Mrs. Northeast International 2014 and is the former Mrs. New Jersey International 2011.
Her platform was called “ABCs of Alzheimer’s Disease” — “A” for increasing awareness, “B” for enhancing the betterment of services for patients and caregivers through education, and “C” for the continuation of funding for additional research.
Since Micale began the pageants, she has raised thousands of dollars for the cause.
“Last year, I turned 40 and I decided to give it one last go,” Micale said of participating in her last pageant. “The pageants gave me an opportunity to highlight my platform and advocate for the cause.”
Micale said although her participation in pageants has ended, it does not mean that her fundraising efforts for the cause have stopped.
Recently, Micale was appointed an Alzheimer’s Ambassador for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District by Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. Micale was elected by the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey Chapter where she volunteers her time.
This past spring, Micale participated in both painting Washington, D.C., purple and the 2015 Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum. She said close to 1,000 advocates attended.
She said they have hit a milestone on a federal level in regards to allocation of funds for Alzheimer’s research and care.
“The Congress and the House [of Representatives] have both submitted to have an increase of $300 million in funding to be allocated to Alzheimer’s care and research,” Micale said. “If approved, it will be the largest increase in funding budgeted for the costliest disease in America.”
Molly Fagan, vice president of programs and services for the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, said the increase in funding would be historic.
Micale said in 2015, some $226 billion will be spent for Alzheimer’s and other dementia care. By 2025, the cost of care could rise as high as $1.1 trillion.
“If only we can just slow the disease down, we could save the country millions,” she said, noting that only 25 percent of that cost is spent on research.
The Alzheimer’s Association holds a number of fundraising efforts including 600 walks in communities nationwide.
The walks, according to the association’s website, are the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
The Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, which employs 20 members and has a number of dedicated volunteers such as Micale, is holding four walks this fall: Point Pleasant Beach on Sept. 26, Princeton on Oct. 4, Jersey City on Oct. 17 and Paramus on Oct. 25.
“The walks are terrific,” Fagan said. “It’s an important fundraiser for us, and the walks give the opportunity for those affected by the disease to come together. They are moving and it is a wonderful experience.”
Fagan said the four walks have averaged more than 10,000 people since they were first held in the mid-1990s.
In 1985, the Greater New Jersey Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association began as a grassroots effort by caregivers, who shared similar stories.
“Since then, education has spread, and the understanding [is] that Alzheimer’s is not a sign of normal aging,” said Fagan. “The progression of the disease is fatal. … It’s the sixth leading cause of death.”
The Greater New Jersey Chapter provides a number of services including a ’round-theclock helpline where caregivers can talk to experts.
Fagan said they have partnered with area hospitals on a three-part series presentation about Alzheimer’s and host educational programs at libraries, YMCAs and more.
The chapter hosts 60 to 70 support groups in the 14 counties they encompass as well as offering a respite care scholarship to provide some caregiver relief.
Fagan said the feedback from people about their services has been moving. She said a woman reached out to let them know that the assistance through their respite care scholarship program saved her.
“It’s nice to hear that we could be of support and it’s important for caregivers to know that they are not isolated or alone,” she said.
For more information, visit www.alz.org/nj.