May (Toukokuu) 2024
Another training month in the books! During our first full month of training in May, Sarah and I each ran 110 miles. And lucky for us, it’s only going to increase as we continue to train for the Helsinki Marathon between now and late August.
Outside of running a lot miles during May, we also celebrated Mother’s Day.. And in honor of Mother’s Day, this month’s blog post is going to be all about the moms…. I hope you enjoy!
As many of you know, my sister, Sarah, is very busy. In addition to marathon training, she works full-time, is a mother of four, attends a lot of softball/baseball/all the sports games on weekends, and manages all of the other responsibilities that come with being a mom. This month, I asked each of her kids why they’re proud of their mom for running the Helsinki, Finland marathon. Here’s what they had to say!
- Noah (14 years old): “My mom inspires me when she wakes up early every morning to run. She inspires me to want to run a marathon someday.”
- Lainie (12 years old): “I am proud of my mom for running the Helsinki Marathon because she’s running for people in the world who have Alzheimer’s.”
- Finn (11 years old): “I’m proud because she’s the fastest mom in the world.”
- Lon (9 years old): “I’m proud because she’s really strong. I love her sense of humor and she’s really kind.”
Personally, I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by so many strong moms, including Sarah, my mom, my grandmother, my aunts, and my friends.
In Finland, these strong moms are celebrated on Mother’s Day, which is a highly respected holiday in Finland and is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Similar to the US, families honor and appreciate their moms with flowers, gifts, and special meals. The Finnish flag is also flown on Mother’s Day to mark the significance of maternal contributions to society (Finland has 15 official flag days, with Mother’s Day being one of them).
Also on Mother’s Day, the President of Finland traditionally awards medals to distinguished mothers. A few recipients of the Distinguished Mother Medal in Finland are:
- Aira Samulin, 2006 recipient. Aira is a well-known Finnish dance instructor, entrepreneur, and public figure. She received the medal in recognition of her contributions to the Finnish society and her role as a mother.
- Mirjam Kalland, 2017 recipient. Mirjam was awarded for her extensive contributions to child welfare and family research.
- Sirkka Merikoski, 2020 recipient. Sirkka was honored for her work in social services and dedication to fostering children.
I think this award is really special because it honors mothers who have made significant contributions to their families and communities through exemplary parenting, promoting well-being, and supporting FInnish values.
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Next up: Alzheimer’s 101: Alzheimer’s Impact on Women
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Alzheimer’s 101 – Alzheimer’s Impact on Women
“One in two women will be diagnosed with a neurological disorder in her lifetime. We are proud to collaborate with WAM (Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement) to expand our efforts to understand the link between gender and all neurodegenerative conditions.” – Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., Cleveland Clinic CEO and President
Alzheimer’s disease disproportionately affects women, with nearly two-thirds of those diagnosed being female. It’s believed that women are at a higher risk partly due to their longer average lifespan compared to men. Women are also more likely to have a gene variant, APOE4, that can cause the buildup of tau protein in the brain. When tau builds up in your brain, it can lead to the development of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Because of the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on women, The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement (WAM) was started by Maria Shriver to raise awareness and fund research for Alzheimer’s disease, particularly its impact on women. Over the past 10+ years, WAM has advocated for more research and resources dedicated to women’s brain health. WAM also promotes a vision where there is “a future in which we know why women are at a greater risk for Alzheimer’s and (a future where) we have a cure for the disease.”
In 2022, WAM’s vision was taken to the next level when they partnered with the Cleveland Clinic. The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement at the Cleveland Clinic has a goal to provide even more focus on women-specific Alzheimer’s prevention and research.
WAM’s research shows that hormonal, genetic, and biological factors can all play a role in women’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis; however studies consistently reveal that lifestyle modifications, such as diet, exercise, and mental health can help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Adopting a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining social connections, and managing stress are all critical for helping to reduce Alzheimer’s risk. I mentioned this in a previous blog post, but lifestyle decisions can have a positive impact on potentially reducing the risk of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis!
Maria Shriver is incredibly passionate about finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Along with starting the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, Maria and her son, Patrick, started a company named Mosh, which sells protein bars that are known to fuel the brain and body. Both Maria and Patrick have seen a family member battle Alzheimer’s. In an attempt to help save other families from enduring the same experience, they launched Mosh, which is a mission-focused company that encourages people to start thinking about their brain health. To make even more of an impact on finding an Alzheimer’s cure, a portion of all Mosh orders is donated to fund gender-based brain health research through the Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement.
MOSH | The Brain Brand & Home of MOSH Protein Bars (moshlife.com)
Thanks to my Uncle John for sharing information about MOSH with me and my siblings!
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Next Up: Ask a Finn. This month, you’ll hear from my mom!
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Ask a Finn
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Mom, what brings you happiness?
My mom described happiness as “spending time with family.”
My mom talked a lot about my dad and how he brings her happiness. She said she “loves spending time with Dan and doing things together, whether it’s going on rides together, going out to eat, going to concerts, or going to the kids’ games together.” My mom also said that my dad is “a really good husband. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone.”
My mom then pivoted and said that she and my dad are also able to do their own thing. When my dad is busy playing pickleball or volunteering, my mom said she enjoys getting lunch with her sister, Diane, and going to the kids’ events with Sarah. My mom said that if my dad is busy, Sarah will often pick her up, grab lunch, and go to one of the kids’ activites, which my mom enjoys. My mom also said that she enjoyed helping Steph house hunt last fall and traveling to Florida for a weekend with me (Amanda) in early May. When I asked my mom about Danny, she said that when he was younger, “he was a bit mischevious… but he has turned out to be a wonderful, young man.” She really enjoys when he visits the house with his girlfriend for dinner.
My mom ultimately said she enjoys the simple life, going with the flow, and spending time with her family… and of course Chester, my parents’ dog 🙂
Why are you proud to be Finnish?
When talking about our finnish heritage, my mom talked a lot about her father, Kauko. My mom said he overcame a lot of challenges throughout his life…. Including moving to the US from Finland around the age of 20 knowing very little English. She also talked about how he was determined to overcome his struggles with alcohol, which he ultimately achieved… The finnish sisu runs deep in our family.
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Next up: Raffle time! First, we’ll announce the winner of the Brewery raffle and then announce the June raffle.
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May Raffle – New England Brewery Raffle!
Thank you for all of this month’s donations!!
June Raffle
Do you know what’s really sweet? Cake AND donating to a good cause!
This month’s raffle was generously donated by a local entrepreneur – Elyse Purbaugh, founder of Weesh Bake Shop in Boston, MA.
Weesh Bake Shop is a local bakery that sells different sweets – weeshtarts, cookies, cakes, and cupcakes! In addition to delish desserts, Weesh Bake Shop also regularly gives back to the community. Elyse raffles or auctions off a cake on a regular basis and donates all proceeds to a selected charity.
For this month’s charity cake, all raffle proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association!
This month’s raffle entry process will be a different format from prior months.
- Follow @weeshbakes on Instagram
- On Wednesday June 26th, the raffle will go live on Instagram. Information on donating will be provided in the Instagram post.
- The raffle period will close on Friday June 28th.
- The winner can pick up the 4th of July cake on Saturday June 29th at Weesh Bake Shop – 18 Birch Street Roslindale MA.
Thank you for your generosity!
Thank you for your support! See you next month!
Miles for Memories 