Raising awareness and funds for Frontotemporal Dementia

My Dad

My dad was the life of the party…forget the party, he brought life to every event, gathering and even just an ordinary day. To anyone lucky enough to know him, there was no denying his infectious happiness and optimism, no matter what he was doing. Take work for instance, my dad worked downtown Toronto for decades and he knew every street person, cab driver and coffee shop owner by name. He loved people and people loved him. He enjoyed making everyone smile and he knew just how to do it.

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My dad was the king of the one-liner. He had all these sayings, and everyone knew them because he repeated them so often. If he was caught overdressed for warm weather he would respond “look, when you’re this cool, heat has no effect” and when he would get out of the shower dressed for the day he’d say ‘Like a million bucks’. He used to joke and tell my brother and I that “You know, I’d do anything for you, I’d take a bullet for you…. just not in the head”. If you wore your coat too long indoors, he was the first to say “why don’t you take your coat off, stay awhile” and when I would struggle with any problem at school or work, he’d tell me “Theresa, if you can’t get out of it…get into it”. There are so many, I could go on for days but sadly, I haven’t heard my dads voice in over 4 years. He was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, shortly after his 60th birthday and this awful disease caused many irreversible changes in him, but the most devastating is that he no longer speaks. The thing is, that every time I think of one of his ‘sayings’ I can hear it, his voice, crystal clear as if he was standing right in front of me and I want to hold this with me because I know it will help keep his spirit and love of life alive.

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I have come up with an idea to celebrate my dad and everything that made him such an incredible human being and at the same time help raise awareness and funds for this terrible disease that has stolen him from us.

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I have started a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society of York Region. This group has helped my dad and my family more than they will ever know and have been a rock-solid support when we needed it most. My idea is that if we reach certain milestones, members of our family will have to get one their favourite ‘Randy Cliff sayings’ tattooed on their body. I have created markers for my brother, mother and me. If you know myself or my mom, we are not huge fans of tattoos, so I have made the goals substantial.

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If we hit $2500 my brother has agreed to get a tattoo. If we hit $5000 in funds raised, I will get one and if we can miraculously reach $7500, my mom will be forced to participate too. I would encourage anyone (friends or family) to join us and add in their own milestone or marker. November is birthday month in our family and has always been full of celebrations. I hope we can make this November an even bigger party and help support the Alzheimer’s Society and all the hard work they do.