Alzheimer's Foundation of America

Alzheimer's
Foundation of America

North Andover Musician Holding 12th Annual Alzheimer’s Benefit Concert in Honor of Her Grandfather

“A Night on the Edge!” – March 18 – Will Raise Funds for Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Programs, Services, Research to Help Families Impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease

(February 16, 2023)—On Saturday, March 18, North Andover-native Michelle Canning and her Michelle Canning Band will host an Alzheimer’s benefit concert in honor of her grandfather who lived with Alzheimer’s.

The 12th annual “A Night on the Edge!” will raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) to support programs and services for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and research towards better treatment and a cure.  The concert will take place at Chelmsford Elks Hall, located at 300 Littleton Road in Chelmsford, MA.  Doors open at 6:00pm ET and the concert will begin at 7:00 pm.

“The thing that I love about ‘A Night on the Edge!’ is that it is an opportunity for people to come together and enjoy a fun night out while simultaneously helping our loved ones, friends, and strangers get through such an incredibly hard period of their life,” said Michelle Canning. “AFA has shown so much support for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, caregivers, and families, and it is an honor to support their cause, one concert at a time.”

“Michelle Canning is a very gifted musician, but more importantly, she’s a wonderful person who is using her talents to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., AFA’s president and CEO. “We are inspired by Michelle and are grateful for everything she is doing to further the fight against Alzheimer’s disease in her grandfather’s memory.”   

The cause hits home for Ms. Canning as her grandfather, Ken Canning, Sr., had Alzheimer’s disease and passed away at the age of 82 from the illness.  She co-wrote a song in his honor called “It’ll Take Him Away.”   She also co-wrote a new, fictional song about a woman with Alzheimer’s called “Better Left Unsaid” which she will perform at the benefit concert.

People can share photos of their loved ones who are living with, or have passed from, Alzheimer’s by sending them to info@MichelleCanning.net a week in advance of the concert to be shown during the performance.

To date, the annual benefit has raised more than $57,000 for AFA.  Proceeds raised by the event help fund AFA programs and services nationwide, which include a National Toll-Free Helpline, the National Memory Screening Program, therapeutic and educational programs, caregiver support groups, professional training, as well as research towards better treatment and a cure.

Currently, more than 130,000 people in Massachusetts are living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Tickets for Michelle Canning’s March 18 benefit concert in support of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America can be purchased at www.michellecanning.net. Those who cannot attend but would like to make a donation can do so by visiting www.michellecanning.net or www.alzfdn.org/donate.

About Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA)

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support, services and education to individuals, families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide, and to fund research for better treatment and a cure. Its services include a National Toll-Free Helpline (866-232-8484) staffed by licensed social workers, the National Memory Screening Program, educational conferences and materials, and “AFA Partners in Care” dementia care training for healthcare professionals. For more information about AFA, call 866-232-8484, visit www.alzfdn.org, follow us on Twitter or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.  AFA has earned Charity Navigator’s top 4-star rating for seven consecutive years.