Deer Valley skier logs loving laps to honor mom with Alzheimer's

PARK CITY, Utah — In an effort to raise awareness and raise funds for the 35,000 Utahns with Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, Utah Chapter of the Alzheimers Association Board Chair Ken Barfield is taking to the slopes of Deer Valley.

On Monday, April 10, he will be participating in The Longest Day, one of the Alzheimer’s Association’s signature events.

Barfield, who’s in his 70s, is a Park City local and the President of DFG, Inc. which includes SCOTT Sports. One of his goals is to honor his mother who passed away in 2018 from Alzheimer’s disease.

In a statement, he wrote the following:

“Our mother Tomiko Leona Nakamura Barfield passed away in October 2018 from Alzheimer’s. She had been with us in Utah for three and a half painful years as we watched this insidious disease rob her, first of her memory and later, her life. I’ve joined the fight to end Alzheimer’s.”

On Monday he intends to, as he puts it, ski the most unique runs and trails at the resort. One day, one run each on as many different (different named) ski runs as he can find.

Barfield’s team, Leona’s Sunshine Army, is seeking donations of at least $25 or $1 for each unique run he skis that day. Click here to donate.

One in 10 Utahns over 65 are suffering from this disease, the fourth leading cause of death in the state.

Statistics suggest that everyone knows someone affected by this ‘awareness robbing’ disease.