A 26.6 mile run down memory lane for the Alzheimer’s Association  

Ashley Culp knew he wanted to do something big to celebrate his milestone birthday. As he reflected on his life — the memories, the people, and the places — he decided what better way to go down memory lane than to run through it. On Nov. 1, Ashley will return to the city he once called home to run his first NYC Marathon on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association®.  

Although Ashley grew up in Wisconsin and currently resides in Los Angeles, New York holds a special place in his heart. Not just because of the many years he lived in iconic neighborhoods including Harlem, Union Square, East Village, and Hell’s Kitchen, but because of the connection he feels between the city and his mom.  

“My mom had a natural connection to NY,” Ashley said. “When I moved, she came to hang out with me. She would walk with me in the morning to my office in Times Square and meet me for lunch. What I didn’t know at the time was that she never booked a return flight! She was with me for three months!”  

Ashley’s commitment to running began about 10 years ago after he moved back to Los Angeles—and abruptly stopped due to severe sciatic nerve pain. It wasn’t until the pandemic that he started slowly walking again.  

“I would walk every day just to get out of the house,” said Ashley. “I found myself walking longer and longer until I started to wonder, ‘what would happen if I just jogged?’ I was surprised to be pain free!  One day, I took a long walk without paying attention to distance and had gone seven miles by the time I got home. Then I thought to myself: ‘I wonder what would happen if I actually ran?’” 

It was around this time that Ashley’s mom began to struggle with dementia. She was living in North Carolina, cared for by Ashley’s sisters. Wanting to do something to help, Ashley looked up his local Alzheimer’s Association and asked if he could run the L.A. Marathon to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s. Soon after, an invitation to attend an exclusive volunteer event and an introduction to the local chapter board followed, and Ashley was hooked. 

“It was about this same time that I was in North Carolina with my mom who was in hospice,” he said. “My official start date on the Southland Chapter Board was the day she passed away. That’s my connection. It’s just as much a part of me as running. It’s what I do now.”  

New York will be Ashley’s fourth marathon, but he’s not stopping once it’s over. He recently agreed to co-chair the Do What You Love to End ALZ™ committee, championing the various ways people can turn their passions into fundraisers for Alzheimer’s research, programs and care.  

“I love the Do What You Love campaign, because you can be as creative as you want or tie a fundraising event into something you’re already doing to raise funds,” he said.  

Ashely also is a yoga instructor and incorporates brain health into his practice. “I’m inspired by the research Alzheimer’s has done to focus on prevention and overall wellness,” he said. “A big priority for me is to speak to others about encouragement and hope. Alzheimer’s is such a debilitating disease. It hits the entire family, and it can feel like there’s no hope. My mom was an optimistic person. If I can speak to hope, I can honor my mom.”  

Today, Ashley runs not only for his mom, but also his Aunt Carmelita Culp, who passed from Alzheimer’s last year. Her daughter Gail Holmes has also since become a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association in the Temecula region and looks forward to launching her own Do What You Love fundraiser.  

Join Ashley and Gail in raising hope, awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association by creating your own Do What You Love to End ALZ event. Visit alz.org/dowhatyoulove to learn more and get inspired.