My name is Carter Smith, a sophomore at Western Kentucky University majoring in Personal Financial Planning and working toward my CFP certification. I’m serving as the Team Operations Manager (TOM) for Bike4Alz Team 15. At WKU, I’m the Interfraternity Council delegate for Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), a Sophomore Senator in the Student Government Association and Vice Chair of its Improvements & Sustainability Committee, a WKU Spirit Master, and a Gordon Ford College of Business Ambassador.
My connection to memory loss is personal. A few months ago, I lost my grandfather, who had lived with memory loss for years after suffering a stroke. Although his condition wasn’t Alzheimer’s, I saw firsthand what it means to watch someone you love slowly lose pieces of who they are, and how heavily it weighs on the whole family. Those years with him gave me a real understanding of what families affected by Alzheimer’s go through every day, and I ride in his memory.
My connection to Alzheimer’s research started long before college. In middle school, I worked on a research project helping develop an app for Alzheimer’s patients, built around matching games designed to strengthen cognitive abilities. That project showed me how much this disease takes from people, and how much even small efforts can matter. Later, I got the chance to meet Team 5 of Bike4Alz before they set out on their cross-country ride. Seeing their commitment up close made me certain that I wanted to be part of this someday.
This summer, Team 15 will ride from San Francisco, California, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, and I’ll be riding to help fund research toward a cure. My personal goal is to raise $1,500, and with your help, we can make a real impact in the fight against this terrible disease. I’m excited to connect with others who have been affected by memory loss, and my hope is that Team 15 can bring hope to families facing it and make a lasting difference.
