Walk into Hangman Coffee Hut in Marion, and you’ll find a box of handmade purple beaded bracelets for sale made by a Wareham woman, and all the proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

“No two are alike,” says Barbara “Barb” Meehan. “Just like Alzheimer’s disease, each of our journeys shares similarities, but each is different.”

Meehan has been an advocate raising awareness for Alzheimer’s disease for the past eight years. An active volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, she has talked with state and federal legislators, addressed a crowd of over 1,400 Alzheimer’s volunteer advocates in Washington D.C., and participated in eight Walk to End Alzheimer’s events to raise funds for those impacted by the disease. Meehan does it all to honor the memory of her partner Faye Miles, who she lost to Alzheimer’s in 2015.

Meehan and Miles met in in 1979, while working at Old Rochester Regional High School in Mattapoisett. They would spend more than 35 years together. Miles was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2008, days after her 68th birthday. Meehan took care of Miles for four and a half years before making the difficult decision to place her in long term care.

In 2012, Meehan walked into the soon to be opened Hangman Coffee Hut—it would be the start of a unique partnership and friendship.

“I was working on painting and remodeling when she walked by with a book in hand and an enormous smile on her face and commented that she would be my biggest customer,” said Dina Quinlan, owner of Hangman Coffee Hut. “She was one of my first customers and maybe has become my most loyal customer, but that is overshadowed by the fact that she has become one of my dearest friends.”

As Meehan and Quinlan got to know each other more, they realized they both had something in common. They were both caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

“To watch her shower love and comfort, support and selfless care to her partner Faye while she slipped away as a result from this horrible disease was awe inspiring,” said Quinlan. “Barb set the bar very high for me and others like myself who care for their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease. She talked the talk. She led by example. She sometimes didn't even know that she was doing it.”

Meehan started to sell her handmade bracelets with proceeds going towards her Walk to End Alzheimer’s in 2014 at Hangman Coffee Hut. If you walk into Hangman today, you will see a jar of bracelets with Meehan and Miles’ heartfelt story on display.

“Although Faye is no longer here on earth with us Barb has not taken a break from giving love and support to those who are afflicted with Alzheimer's or their caregivers,” said Quinlan. “In fact, I think she works harder than ever in educating, advocating, supporting, listening and engaging others to do the same. I will be forever grateful for her help and support in my endeavor to take care of my mother with Alzheimer's disease.”

The Alzheimer Association provides services and programs for those with Alzheimer’s, family and professional caregivers in the form of support groups. For more information, visit www.alz.org/MANH or call 800.272.3900.