GRAND TOWER, ILLINOIS (WSIL) -- A local nurse is raising awareness about dementia and giving back to the community.
Jennifer Glodo is putting on a drive-thru light display to honor the life of her grandma called the June Freeman Memory Night of Lights.
Freeman, who was a life-long resident of the town, recently passed away after being diagnosed with dementia in February of 2020.
"There are different forms of dementia," Glodo explains. "Gram had vascular dementia. She also had breathing problems so when her oxygen would drop low, her dementia symptoms were worse."
Glodo believes dementia and Alzheimer's disease are something that people often try to avoid as a topic of discussion, which is one reason she's holding the event. Â
"We have awareness months for it like September is international awareness month and November is national awareness month, but we don't talk about it enough, " she says. "I think something like a light display that's all purple and white lights is something to draw attention."
Glodo adds the owners at Devil's Backbone Park have been supportive allowing her to hold the event on the campgrounds. It will be free to those who come out and she hopes parents will bring their children.
While not required, donations will be accepted to support a scholarship fund in Freeman's memory.
"Gram didn't finish high school, she was sick with Tuberculosis her senior year and education was always something very important to her," Glodo recalls. "So I thought she would really like this. I mentioned it to her before she passed, and she liked the idea. She didn't think it needed to be named after her, she kinda laughed about that."
The June Freeman Memory Night of Lights is taking place at Devil's Backbone Park on Saturday, August 28th from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.
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