It’s hard for me to believe that I’ve already walked more than 500 miles! Looking back at some of the video footage, including the drone shots which show the incredibly beautiful landscapes and long stretches of roads, memories flashed before me. The small towns and settlements each with their unique features and charm. But what has been most impressive have been the people I’ve met. As soon as they learn what I’m doing and why, they are immediately interested. Everyone identifies with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s, either because a family member has been affected, or sometimes they admit they are personally experiencing symptoms of memory loss. A runner stopped me as I was crossing the Colorado River bridge. He ran across America twice and even ran the perimeter — he is so much younger and fitter than I am. He hugged me, wished me well, and made a small donation with all the cash he was carrying! Everyone who hears about the walk wishes me well. Sometimes people see my support van with the placards about the walk, they honk their horns, and wave.
Several people have stopped along the highway and offered water. Others offer rides, which I kindly refuse. We spent an amazing evening with a group of people in a settlement of RVs and tiny houses at DeAnza Springs Resort in Jacumba Hot Springs. A magical place tucked between mountains. People come from all over to enjoy the hot springs. A long-term resident, a vivacious woman in her late 60s, married to a Sicilian, regaled us with stories. Two friends rounded up the group. One was a gentleman of around 70 suffering from cancer. The love and support of his friends was palpable. Sadly, he was still smoking. The other gentleman was also ill with diabetes and other ailments and was still smoking. What was striking was the closeness and love expressed by their neighbors. Truly an example of what the word community can mean. We sat on their patio, wine and beer were offered but not accepted. Clearly, they were happy and having fun. Loving their life despite their challenges. They asked many questions about how I have reversed my symptoms. They are following me on Instagram.
Further down the road, I walked into what I thought was an antique shop, but learned it was a collection of objects of art. The owner, an artist, had turned castaway junk into beautiful art. People everywhere are kind and express intense interest in the purpose of my walk. The walk through the Apache Indian Reservation took 3 days. Two Apache sisters driving past me turned their car around to take a photo with me. I will treasure that photo. Another young Apache man stopped me and asked how far I was walking. When he heard, he said he was going to pray that I would be safe on my journey. I thanked him and said I could use his prayers.
Each day has been an adventure, convincing me that my journey is worthwhile and having an impact on those people I meet.
Until next time,
Judy
Dr. Judy Benjamin met with Kathy Bernard, host of The Grands Podcast, to discuss her 3,000-mile walk from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida. They talked about her early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis at age 67, including her family history, her mom and uncles passed away from the disease. She spoke of the panic she felt after diagnosis, and how her doctor told her she would end up like her mom, and there wasn’t anything that could be done. A friend introduced Benjamin to Dr. Dale Bredesen’s theory about Alzheimer’s, and she flew out to meet him, becoming his “patient zero,” and adopting his approach to treating cognitive decline. Benjamin also shared how, through blood tests curated by Dr. Bredesen, she identified the contributors to her decline, which included toxins created by mold in her home. It wasn’t just mold toxins that she had to mitigate; she also had to address the multiple causes of her decline to heal and improve. Benjamin shared the many changes that led to her recovery on the podcast and her reasoning for undertaking this monumental walk.
Watch Judy on The Grand Podcast here.
On April 12th I celebrated the 13th anniversary of when I started my journey to wellness and recovery from memory loss with Dr. Dale Bredesen’s protocol. The rough course today challenges my resolve. The wind pushes me forward and back. The narrow ledge on the shoulder limits my walking space. But my walk is a journey, not a race. I don’t feel pressured to meet impressive daily mileage. With excellent team support, and all the wonderful followers cheering me on–I am confident that I will reach my destination. As I continue, I encourage followers to experience with me the excitement of walking across America. Perhaps, walk and talk with me whenever possible.
My route today is along the lengthy road that intersects the two thousand square mile Yuha Desert, parallel to Interstate 8 towards El Centro in the Imperial Valley—which drops below sea level. The pace is manageable and easy but after an hour or so walking on the hot asphalt, my feet heat up. You could say I’m “hot footing it” across the desert! After a couple of hours walking, I need to take breaks in my support RV to remove my shoes and cool down. Thanks to one of my sponsors, UCAN, I boost my electrolytes with their excellent hydration and energy gel packs.
Another sponsor, Trifecta, provides delicious meals for myself and Mike, my support driver and videographer. Not only are they very tasty but they have saved us valuable time since all that is needed is to warm up the food. Don’t get me wrong, I like cooking, but it is enormously helpful to have healthy prepared food and save the time it would take to shop and prepare from scratch. That time and energy is best used for walking and recovering. Sadly, finding sources for healthy food across my walking route isn’t easy. That speaks to the difficulties encountered by the general population in rural areas.
Today, I encountered around 15 to 20 dune buggies off-roading and kicking up sand as they passed through the beautiful sand dunes. Luckily, the wind blew the sand away from me, but I put away my camera briefly as a precautionary measure. I am rarely bored on the long stretches of my walk, which gives me a lot of time to ponder and reflect. I enjoy listening to my weekly online class on the James Joyce novel, Ulysses. What a different experience now from when I first read Joyce as a college student! I’m greatly enjoying listening to Dr. Bredesen’s new book, The Ageless Brain, as I walk. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Catch you further down the road,
Judy
Dr. Judy Benjamin appeared on the Good Morning Arizona Show this May. She spoke with anchors Kylee Cruz and Alaina Kwan about her 3,000-mile walk across the country and the reasons she undertook the journey. Benjamin encouraged others to take their brain health into their own hands, explaining that there are things you can do to reverse cognitive decline, as she has. She described her healing journey, which began over a decade ago after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, when she adopted Dr. Dale Bredesen’s approach to treating cognitive decline, becoming his “patient zero.” Among the many things she shared on the show was that her Mom passed away from Alzheimer’s, and in part, this walk is in her honor as well as to get the message out across the country that something can be done. Watch on YouTube.
As I am heading closer to the California-Arizona border, I am walking uphill and feeling a little breathless because of the climb; these are the first of many climbs I will be making as I move along, and it has been a great way to test my endurance and stamina. I’ve enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the cows in the pasture, and the desert chaparral so far. This is a great way to see the country and meet folks who stop me and ask what I’m doing on the road.
I’m trying not to be stressed about how many miles I walk daily. After all, this is not a race; it’s a journey. I’ve been thinking about my original goals, ideas, and estimations. But now, in the thick of it, I realize that the temperature, terrain, and blister on my right foot tell me that I need to be kind to myself and be okay with not clocking as many miles as I expected to. We give ourselves a day of rest weekly to regroup and prepare for the next day. Following that day of rest, I am energetic and excited about what the day and the next set of miles will bring me.
Looking at the roadside memorials for loved ones who have perished on the highway reminds me of the dangers of the road, whether in a car or on foot. I am always mindful of my safety and aware of my surroundings. Some of the pavement on the side of the highway is broken up and is unforgiving on my blistered foot, and since I can hear cars coming from a long way off, I sometimes let myself walk on the smoother pavement in the road. I also wear a bright yellow reflective vest to ensure I’m well seen.
Another welcome sight is my support vehicle ahead of me, adorned with the orange placards provided by CareScout. My driver and videographer, Mike, pulls over after a certain distance down the road, and I eventually catch up to him. The RV is carrying my supplies, and I can stop for a bit, take a break, and grab something I need. It’s my moving goal post, and breaks up the long, lonely stretches of road.
So far, I’ve passed through many small and mid-sized towns in California. One such town, El Centro, is one of the lowest elevations in the United States and an agricultural town producing much of California’s winter vegetables. I have also reached Laguna Summit, formerly called “Laguna Junction,” a roadside café built in 1916 and removed in 1971 to make an interchange on the I-8 highway where I’ve been walking this week.
Until next time,
Judy
I’m a little over a week into my journey, which started on April 5th in San Diego. The Arizona border lies ahead as we head toward Blythe, Calif., located in the Palo Verde Valley of the lower Colorado River Valley Region. I have loved telling my story of hope and possibilities for better brain health to the inquisitive people who stop me by the side of the road. I want them to know that there is another way of living, and they can make the most of their lives and take charge of their health.
It is quite an experience to see America from the roadside and at eye level. As I walked through the Imperial Valley, I was struck by the natural beauty of the roadside view of nature as I pounded the pavement. It allowed me to clear my mind and reflect on this first week of my journey. It has been productive and successful, minus the dust devils and technical issues with uploading my video updates, but we are working that all out. We had to stop so the whirling sand didn’t work into our tech gear and temporarily stop using the drone, which was also throttled by the high winds.
I have two new supporters to add to my roster of sponsors, Jennie Kasteler and her brother, Calvin Child, who has donated GDG protein bars from his company. They have been handy and a perk to keep me going. I must give another shoutout to Trifecta Nutrition, whose KetoFLEX 12/3 meals my videographer, Michele “Mike” Gentile, and I have also enjoyed this week. Both sponsors are keeping the fuel in my tank, so to speak.
What’s on the road ahead of me now? I know many small towns and communities that need to hear about the Bredesen Protocol and Dr. Dale Bredesen, as well as the message of hope that something can be done about cognitive decline. It’s the metaphorical torch I am carrying on their behalf.
Catch you further down the road,
Judy
Fox News Senior Health editor Melissa Rudy spoke with Judy Benjamin, a wellness coach and Dr. Dale Bredesen’s “patient zero,” about her 3k-mile walk across the U.S. from San Diego to St. Augustine, Florida. Diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 67, Benjamin told Rudy that she is determined to raise awareness about brain health and demonstrate that a diagnosis doesn’t mean the end of a vibrant life through this walk. She also discussed how she overcame her diagnosis, overhauling her lifestyle based on advice given to her by Dr. Dale Bredesen, and much more.
You can view her interview and read the full article Read “Woman with Alzheimer’s begins 3,000-mile walk to raise awareness” on Fox Newshere.
I just finished my first day of the journey, walking through beautiful San Diego, known for its stunning beaches and temperate climate. It was satisfying to leave months of planning, preparing, and training behind me and to finally be on my way across America to St. Augustine, Florida. I will miss my cats, but I am excited about the people I may meet and the adventures that lay ahead. As I walk and bring attention to living a full and healthy life with purpose, I hope others will follow in my footsteps.
My friend and inspiration, Dr. Dale Bredesen, was along for my walk today and offered me the following kind words of encouragement: “Your journey of recovery from Alzheimer’s was just beginning when I met you years ago and became my ‘patient zero.’ Now, at age 80, undertaking this three-thousand-mile walk illustrates your courage and determination to share the message across America that we can all remain healthy with excellent cognition at any age.”
When I was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s thirteen years ago, my doctor at the time told me there was nothing that could be done. I was devastated and depressed, thinking I would go through the same suffering my mother and four uncles went through. That serendipitous meeting with Dr. Bredesen turned all of that around, as I was the first to adopt his new protocol, and I vowed to follow it precisely. I embraced the revolutionary lifestyle changes, including exercise, sleep, destressing, detoxing from mold, eating healthy real food, brain exercise, and supplementation for lacking nutrients — with a passion and determination that I hold today — and my symptoms disappeared over time.
Here in the RV, I am studying my route for tomorrow, pausing for dinner, and relaxing. Even as I may walk through potentially long stretches of isolated locations, I will be coaching and consulting with my clients from the road, in essence taking them along with me, pushing through, and keeping myself and them living fully while on the ReCODE Protocol. Despite today’s crowds and excitement, I want to savor the mindful and meditative moments that will fuel me in those long, lonely stretches of the road.
I hope that others will join me and walk along with me in person, and if they can’t be where I am, follow along with me and fellow walkers in spirit, knowing you can improve your quality of life, brain health, and overall well-being. I appreciated the support from everyone who came out today to send me on my journey; special thanks to Apollo Health’s Dr. Dale Bredesen and Lance Kelly, CareScout’s Katy Boyles, and Weiss Rating’s Martin Weiss.
Until next time,
Judy