Journal

2,000 Miles Behind Me — Less Than 1,000 to Go

September 29, 2025

This week, I crossed another milestone on my coast-to-coast journey — 2,000 miles and counting. Each step reminds me why I started: to share hope that cognitive decline can be prevented and reversed.

Along the way, I also had the chance to join Dr. Dale Bredesen for a webinar. We discussed the everyday practices that keep me on track, including Keto-Friendly meals, daily walking, solid sleep, and stress management — and how these small, consistent steps add up to real change. Dr. Bredesen shared why putting these pieces together matters, and I explained how I make them work on the road, whether that's choosing simple staples at diners or adjusting my plans when detours happen. If you missed the webinar, you can catch the recording here.

I'm writing today from New Orleans, where I've spent the last few days walking across this sprawling city. With over 2,000 miles now behind me, I can hardly believe I have fewer than 1,000 left before I step into the Atlantic Ocean at St. Augustine. My target is just before Thanksgiving, weather permitting.

Physically, I feel strong. No blisters, no joint pain, something I attribute to pacing myself, changing shoes and socks often, and relying on my trusty Xero barefoot shoes. They have kept me balanced and blister-free since I began my walk. Safety remains my biggest daily challenge — sharing the road with traffic requires focus, visibility, enhanced by my bright red umbrella and yellow dresses. Drivers, especially truckers, have been incredibly respectful, often moving over a lane to give me space. I'm thankful for their courtesy and for the countless good Samaritans who stop to offer water or simply a kind word.

Of course, this walk isn't only about the miles. My mission is to spread hope: that Alzheimer's is not an automatic death sentence, and that survivors like me do exist. Nearly everyone I meet has a loved one touched by this disease. I hand out cards directing them to the Alzheimer's Survivors Foundation, so they know there are resources, stories, and a community waiting for them. I share my own story because I remember what it felt like to hear the words “there's nothing we can do.” I refused to accept that and have shown that if you're willing to do the work and follow the Bredesen Protocol, there's plenty you can do to reverse symptoms. It works for me and can work for you too!

I still have hundreds of miles to go, but every step brings me closer to my goal. I walk with the memories of my mother, with the encouragement of strangers, and the deep conviction that the message of prevention and reversal must reach every family that needs it. Thank you for following along, cheering me on, and helping me carry this message forward.

Until next time,
Judy