Pickle with Mickle Interview Series : Stop Alzheimer's Now: Making a Difference with Shaun McDuffee

Summary

Shaun McDuffie of Stop Alzheimer's Now Foundation shares his personal journey and the work his foundation is doing to fund Alzheimer's research. He discusses the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia and the impact it has on individuals and their families. Shaun started his foundation after realizing that many national Alzheimer's organizations had high leakage, meaning a small percentage of the funds actually went towards research. He wanted to create a direct conduit for donations to go directly to research institutions. He also talks about his involvement in the pickleball community and how he partnered with pickleball pros like Zane Navratil to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research. In this conversation, Mickle Moore and Shaun McDuffie discuss various topics including the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Atlanta event, paddle surface testing and suspensions, and their favorite pickleball players. They also talk about their favorite rock bands, their skill levels in pickleball, and their predictions for their favorite football teams. Shaun McDuffie also shares information about his foundation, Stop Alzheimer's Now.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey
02:33 Understanding Alzheimer's and Dementia
06:25 Creating a Direct Conduit for Alzheimer's Research
11:34 Pickleball: A Platform for Awareness and Fundraising
35:10 Becoming a Minority Owner in the MLP League
38:08 MLP Atlanta: An Exciting and Competitive Event
42:45 Controversy Surrounding Paddle Surface Testing and Suspensions
52:06 Favorite Pickleball Players: Zane Navratil
54:56 Rock Bands and Pickleball Skill Levels
01:06:28 Stop Alzheimer's Now: Making a Difference