Podcast Interview at 103.8 Dubai Eye

Listen to 4get-me-not.org 30-minute interview with Suzanne Radford on 103.8 Dubai Eye

4get-me-not.org Article on Alzheimer's Featured

01 May 2013: 4get-me-not.org contributed an article on Alzheimer's disease for the Women's Health & Fitness Magazine (WH&F) for May 2013 Issue. WH&F is the premier health and fitness magazine in the Gulf. It’s a holistic guide to a happier and healthier lifestyle, offering a lot of information on health including, mental well-being.

On page 14, we find article contributors including Desiree Vlekken - Founder & CEO, 4get-me-not.org

Here is also the full 2-page article on Alzheimer's and a great start to raise awareness on this incurable disease. 4get-me-not.org would like to thank Eileen Domiati, Editor-in-Chief, Emilie Goldstein - Lifestyle Editor and WH&F Team for their continued support.

17 April 2013: Mr. Ahmad Belselah, President of the Rotary Club of Jumeirah presented the ceremonial banner to Desiree Vlekken, Founder & CEO 4get-me-not.org at the Sunset Lounge, Mina A' Salam Hotel Jumeirah.

The Rotary Club of Jumeirah motto, "Peace through service," forms part of Rotary International whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Barely five months operations in Dubai, 4get-me-not.org was invited to conduct a 15-minute presentation by Rotarian member, Musa Al-Sadoon and also Managing Director of Franklin Covey Middle East. Prior to the presentation, Mr. Musa delivered a heart warming introduction to 4get-me-not.org in the presence of his fellow Rotarians and guests.

The 4get-me-not.org presentation of raising awareness on Alzheimer's disease in the region sparked interest among the audience as conveyed during the Q & A session.

4get-me-not.org presentation was supported by the presence of Dr. Raymond Hamden - President, HRI & Clinics; Christine Basilio - Director Administration, HRI & Clinics and 4get-me-not.org Volunteer Consultants - Rebecca Hill and Ingrid Sahu. With special thanks to Julia Carden, Coordinator of Rotary Club Jumeirah

The dinner gatherings of the highly esteemed Rotary Club Jumeirah is held every Wednesday.

A Memorable Evening

20 March 2013: "A Memorable Evening" - A film screening and community lecture series on Alzheimer's disease finally concluded.

The program started with an introductory note from Mike Young (The National) followed by a welcome speech from Desiree Vlekken, Founder and CEO of 4get-me-not.org. A 15-minute informative lecture on Alzheimer's disease was delivered by Dr. Raymond Hamden - President, HRI & Clinics.

A mixed audience gathered together to share a Memorable Evening. The 4get-me-not.org exhibition table attracted also inquiries on the special books and novelty items on Alzheimer's which will be available online by April 2013.

After the film screening of "Wrinkles," there was a sentimental reaction from the attendees, praised the film and clamored for more discussions on Alzheimer's.

This non-profit initiative was Co-sponsored by Human Relations Institute & Clinics and Beaufort Medical. And supported by CoTopia Social Responsibility Dialogue, Community Cinema, Spanish Business Council The Dubai Mall and Hersheys Chocolate World The Dubai Mall.

March 2013: Human Relations Institute And Clinics in association with The Foundation of International Human Relations (Washington DC) signed a MOU with 4get-me-not.org to co-sponsor "A Memorable Evening." This non-profit event is the first series of Film Screening and Community Lecture Program to raise awareness on Alzheimer's disease and other Dementias in Dubai, UAE.

Dr. Raymond H. Hamdan, President of HRI & Clinics was one of the key note speakers prior to the screening of the award winning Spanish animated film "Wrinkles." Families, medical practitioners and caregivers trooped down to the Picturehouse, Reel Cinema Dubai Mall last 20 March, 7PM.

March 2013: Beaufort Medical, distributor of Betrinac vitamin caplets and HTL MyoVista signed up as one of the major co-sponsors of "A Memorable Evening.'' Jihad Fakhreddine, Managing Director of Beaufort Medical as additional support provided complimentary use of MyoVista - a portable diagnostic device for the screening of Myocardial Ischemia (MI) to the attendees of the event.

March 2013: Retail Is Detail LLC the distributor of Hershey's Chocolate World at The Dubai Mall supported "A Memorable Evening" event. Abegail Bokingo, Marketing Executive of Retail Is Detail provided each attendee of the film screening a piece of Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate. A sweet ending for a memorable evening!

March 2013: CoTopia Corporation for Social Responsibility, supported to 4get-me-not.org for the initial launch of "A Memorable Evening" - a film screening and community lecture program on Alzheimer's disease held on 20 March. CoTopia works on developing creative partnership programs which innovate creative and modern social responsibility initiatives in the UAE. Yousif Al Obaidli, CEO of CoTopia.

March 2013: 4get-me-not.org received support from The Dubai Mall, Community Cinema and Spanish Business Council for the upcoming non-profit event, "A Memorable Evening" - a film screening and community lecture series on Alzheimer's disease last 20 March.

4get-me-not featured at

The National

01 January 2013: 4get-me-not.org - A journey into Alzheimer's, was featured at the Business page of The National. The article entitled, "The UAE social enterprises unfazed by a lack of funding" was written by Sananda Sahoo and photographed by Mike Young.

"It's a humbling experience to be featured in the United Arab Emirates' major newspaper. This exposure will hopefully help 4get-me-not.org communicate the need to raise awareness on Alzheimer's disease in the region. And at the same time render most needed support for social entrepreneurs."

http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/the-life/the-uae-social-enterprises-unfazed-by-a-lack-of-funding#ixzz2HbSE7L4t

Image courtesy of Weekly Volcano

"A" - stands for Adobo and Alzheimer's

As an expatriate in Dubai for almost 12 years now, there are days when I have these food cravings from my hometown in the Philippines.

One of the dishes I miss most is Chicken Adobo, and there’s no place on earth – at least for me – where I can find the perfect Chicken Adobo stewed with just the right amount of garlic and sugarcane vinegar but in my father’s kitchen.

My father once told me that he learned to cook by simply remembering the taste and smell of my grandmother’s cooking. He loves to cook for our family – and we just love everything he makes. Unfortunately, there’s not much action in my parents’ kitchen lately. Apart from the usual physical stress of aging, my father has recently demonstrated early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Such news changed our lives overnight. Like any family, each of us have different ways of acceptance.

The Fisher Center Research for Alzheimer's states that “Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease without a cure and most common with the elderly. It affects memory, judgement, perception, language, and emotional behaviour or personality. As it progress, it worsens and eventually leads to the inevitable.”

I know that I’m not alone in this situation – living in Dubai far from my father and sometimes feeling helpless to do anything. But there are many individuals like me who believe that we need to empower ourselves from letting this horrible disease take full control of our loved ones (both for those who are living with the disease and those who take care of them).

And in my quest to learn more about this disease and to help others cope with this disease, heart in hand I present: 4get-me-not.org – a journey into Alzheimer’s. This is the first online information platform on Alzheimer’s in Dubai, which we have put together in collaboration with Dr. Ahmed Foul who sits as Head of Geriatrics of Rashid Hospital, DHA, Dubai. - And what could be a more opportune moment to launch 4get-me-not.org than on World Alzheimer’s Day?

Each year on September 21, Alzheimer organizations around the world unite to recognize World Alzheimer’s Day to raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease, and to bring attention to people suffering from Alzheimer’s, as well as their families and loved ones.

Please take this journey with me and together we will explore the possibilities of regaining the quality of life for our loved ones living with Alzheimer’s.

"A" - stands for Adobo and Alzheimer's

Archives