Alzheimer's and why you should make every day outdoors count.  

Throughout my life I’ve had some great outdoor mentors and mates. 

No more than Gene. Gene and his family were destined to cross paths with mine. Incredibly he tracked down our farm in Australia called Maryland because he came from Maryland USA. What are the chances? 

Throughout my childhood and into my 20’s, Gene took me on all different adventures but more importantly, he sat down with me and gave me his full attention with all his heart. He was incredibly detailed and planned on his approach to getting outdoors. 

Unfortunately, Gene developed a very early onset of Alzheimer’s and our days outdoors together are now over. 

I can still remember the last time he was able to call me and said: “We should get out to Clive’s soon”. This phone call still plays over in my head to this day because I did not take that opportunity.  

I saw Gene just a couple of weeks ago. Now he goes in and out of “making sense”. There was an intense moment. A long, very long uninterrupted stare directly into my eyes:

“We should go out soon together, you know life just gets too busy." 

I just didn’t know what to say, I was speechless. He was sending me a sign or a message. 

I don’t want anyone to live in regret or take their active life or take it for granted. I want more people to get outside and live every moment that they have. 

Stories like this are why we created “Your Action Plan”, a multi-strategy plan to get backpackers outdoors and more often.