The Dauphin Island Sea Lab family holds many causes near to their heart. Whitney Scheffel, the project manager for the Wetlands subgroup of the Alabama Center for Ecological Resilience (ACER), is doing what she can to raise awarness for Alzheimer's. 

November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month, and Scheffel will be participating in the second annual walk in memory of her mother, Donna, and her other family members that have lost their fight to Alzheimer's. 

"I fight for all of those that don't have the ability to and for their families," Scheffel said. "As a young person in science, I feel that it is my duty to speak out about this disease in hopes that more people will support research efforts for a cure so one day we will no longer have this battle to fight."

Currently, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to grow to as many as 16 million by 2050. Our future is at risk unless we can find a way to change the course of this disease. 

Scheffel encourages all who can to participate or donate to the Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday, November 5 at Langan Municipal Park in Mobile. The walk is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. Funds raised are used to support the mission of the Alzheimer's Association to advance research into methods of treatment, prevention, and, ultimately, a cure for Alzheimer's.  

"I am lucky to have staff and students from the Dauphin Island Sea lab support me in this effort! For the millions already affected by the disease, the Association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide."

You can support Scheffel's team and learn more about The Walk to End Alzheimer's by clicking here.