2 years ago
ShareMore than 100,000 Arkansans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and f
"When he was coaching, he would get up and leave at 5 in the morning. And when he was coaching, he didn't get home until 11 or so," told Barbara in an interview with THV's Anne Jansen in 1997.
A challenge came though, not in the game, but in the playbook of life. Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1999. She passed away five years later.
"A memory should last a lifetime. A memory should last a lifetime," says Broyles.
Since then, he's been a crusader for Alzheimer's research. Monday, he helped senators and representatives at the state capitol introduce a bill that would create a government-mandated task force to address the needs of Arkansans living with the disease.
He explains, "And what this task force is going to do is study the problem and study where we are going to put the money and where we are going to get the awareness and get the education. There is no substitute for preparation."
Right now 10 states already have a task force for Alzheimer's and at least 10 others, including Arkansas, are looking into the idea. Representative Dawn Creekmore wrote the proposed bill and says she expects it to pass without opposition.
"There is nothing out there to collaborate different agencies so that we can get a game plan," explains Creekmore. "Like Coach Broyles said; he said it perfectly, you need a game plan to be successful in anything."
It's a game plan with a mission for his bride of 59 years and the compassionate fight to find a cure.
"Their memory goes down to one-year-old before they die. It broke my heart," says Broyles.
At the press conference, Broyles criticized the federal government for not taking enough action on Alzheimer's disease.
The legislative session starts on January 12th. Of course, we'll be sure to keep you updated on whether the proposal for the task force passes.
