Stef Desmond of Boston usually goes away for her birthday. But this year, in honor of her 30th birthday, she decided to do something different. “I asked my family and friends to donate $30, or whatever they could, to fund Alzheimer’s research. I wanted to raise awareness for the disease and raise money for such an important cause.” Her father was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and Stef is committed to making a difference. She raised $1,200 for research.