Franklinton businesswoman Tricia Wood Thomas went to Washington DC recently where she advocated for the Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM) Advocacy Forum.
Tricia is a state champion speaker and an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association. She spoke to members of Congress in order to pass acts such as the ENACT Act, NAPA Reauthorization Act, Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer's Act, BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, and the Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Act. These acts will allow for more funding and research in order to continue the fight to find a cure.
"It was such a breathtaking experience being on Capitol Hill talking to our Senators and their staffs.I was able to speak with Senator Bill Cassidy, Congresswoman Julia Letlow, and Senator John Kennedy. This was truly an experience I will never forget, and I feel as if we made a difference,” she said.
Tricia is a committee member with the Northshore Alzheimer's Association, in which they are currently planning this year's Walk to End Alzheimer's. It will be held on November 18th in Covington.
This past year, Tricia gathered a Franklinton team. Together with the other communities and their teams, they raised over $30,000. She also hosts a monthly Alzheimer's Caregivers support group within this community. This group shares their concerns, stories, and testimonies and Tricia is the group leader who provides support, having been her father's caregiver. Tricia's father passed away this past Christmas Eve, and although her loss is recent and heartbreaking, she continues the fight as a writer, speaker, and state ambassador. Tricia advocates for early detection and warning signs of this horrible disease.
She has written a book titled, "Cooking With Love in Louisiana" in honor and memory of her father. This book can be purchased on Amazon as well as in her local boutique, Tricia's Bridal & Pageant Boutique located in Franklinton. All of the proceeds of Tricia's book are donated to the Alzheimer's Association. Tricia is the owner of Tricia's Pageant Productions and she directs a pageant to raise money towards Alzheimer's Awareness.
Tricia placed fourth runner-up in the United States National Pageant in 2021. She will be competing again as Mrs. Louisiana United States 2022 in the Mrs. United States Pageant in Memphis, Tennessee in October. Let us all give our support and cheer her on as she competes for this title.
