By Jesse Roman
Staff writer
—
PEABODY — A lot of people with a diagnosis like John Channell's would sit around and mope all day. Channell has days when he's depressed and his stomach knots up, but he forces himself to get over it — he has work to do.
About three months ago, at the age of 57, the Peabody resident was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He knows that, under the best circumstances, he won't recognize his family 10 years from now, his memories will be gone, and he will rely on family members and nurses for even the simplest tasks.
"Everything about yourself is erased. Everything you've ever loved, things you've done, family members — it all gets wiped out," Channell said. "If you dwell on that, it can bring you down."
He's not fooling himself about what lies ahead; he knows that better than anyone. For nine years, he cared for his ailing father, who was also stricken with the disease. Before he died three years ago, the father didn't know his son anymore.
Since Alzheimer's appears to be hereditary, Channell worries about his three children and three grandchildren.
"I really want for my family to stop this cycle. I don't want them to have to face it — I don't want anybody to have to face it," he said, wearing one of the purple bracelets he's been selling to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association, which funds research to find a cure. "I want to do something, while I still have something to offer."
Channell has some of his biggest supporters at Artie's Lynnfield Street Diner, where he's been coming, sometimes twice a day, for the last several years.
It's at Artie's where he relaxes, exchanging friendly banter with eight or 10 other regulars, and works the counters selling bracelets. It's almost like a full-time job.
Twice, he has set up a table in front of the diner to sell bracelets and hand out literature on the Alzheimer's Association to anyone who passes by.
"I've collected over $1,000 just out of here," Channell said, motioning at the diner. "There are guys who come in here, they don't take a bracelet, but they give me $5 every day."
Many of the regulars at Artie's will join Channell and his family to form Team Grampo at the Walk to End Alzheimer's in Andover on Oct. 2. Channell has raised about $2,000 for the cause, and the rest of his team has raised about $1,200 so far.
When Channell went to get shirts made up for the Grampo team members, he balked at the $350 price tag to print them up. His friends didn't.
"A couple of guys jumped in and bought the shirts," Channell said. "The best part about all of this is seeing how nice people are."
"We've all taken a liking to the guy. He's a nice, honest, sincere person," said Artie Mihelis, who has owned the diner with his name on the front for almost 20 years. "Everyone has been very supportive of him here. We're even able to kid with him about it. He's taking it really well."
Channell just has one request from his friends.
"After the walk, we're not talking about it anymore," Channell said. "Talking about it is hard; it can make you depressed, but I'm willing to risk that right now. I have a purpose right now, and I'm all in."
