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A few years ago, Manuelle’s dad, Victor Ruiz, was diagnosed with Alzheiemer’s. The hardship and brutal reality of the disease was beautifully personalized in a new song, “Algo le pasa a mi héroe” (Something’s happening to my hero), which Manuelle wrote and recorded not only as an homage to his father, but as a way to raise awareness about the effects of Alzheimer’s both in patients and caretakers.
Manuelle filmed a moving video, starring Puerto Rican actor Jacobo Morales, that shows the day to day of an Alzheimer’s patient, but in the most loving manner possible. For maximum effect, he partnered with Puerto Rico’s Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association for a campaign titled: “They forget, but you shouldn’t” (Ellos olvidan, no lo hagas tú). For the single’s release last March, Manuelle stood a street corner in San Juan and personally distributed 50,000 copies of the song to cars and passer-bys.
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“Everywhere I went, I found someone affected by this disease,” says Manuelle. “We wanted to take the message to the world. I really didn’t know what was going to happen, but the support has been overwhelming.”
Happy Father’s Day, Victor — to you and your dad!
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