Woman to teach yoga all day class to raise money for Alzheimer's Research

PEARLAND, TX -- A Pearland woman is taking on a daunting personal challenge to help raise money to help with the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Denise De la Cruz plans to teach yoga from sunrise to sunset on Saturday at Pearland Town Center.

The 41-year-old De La Cruz had become involved in raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease when her own 76-year-old mother, Mary Ester De La Cruz, was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.

More than 35 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer's, including more than five million Americans. More than 15 million people in the United States serve as caregivers for those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

In her mother's honor, De La Cruz and her team are taking part in an event called The Longest Day, which is organized by the Alzheimer's Association. This Saturday, volunteers across the country will hold a variety of day long fundraisers.

De La Cruz is a certified yoga instructor and will lead yoga instruction to donors who show up from sunrise to sunset at the Pearland Town Center Pavilion. Classes start at 6am and run to 7pm.

De La Cruz is the only certified instructor so far that will be the event. But she says she will accept help from any certified instructor who wishes to donate their time.

Other team members will be on hand to educate visitors about Alzheimer's disease. They will available to help people register and make online donations.

Money raised will go to the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.

You can find more information on the event and how to donate here: http://act.alz.org/site/TR/?pg=team&fr_id=5860&team_id=210964