A Hawk with heart Darla Menucci who's husband Gene has Alzheimer's disease is going to the Packers' game against the Seahawks thanks to Seahawks' receiver Koren Robinson (photo by Tina Gohr). The wife of an Alzheimer's victim gets a break today thanks to a Seattle player By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Darla Menucci will have to hide the newspapers today. She's going to the Packers game at Lambeau Field, thanks to tickets from one of the Seattle players, and she doesn't want her husband to know. It's not that her husband would mind, although he'd be hurt he couldn't go, too. But he wouldn't understand why. Gene Menucci is in a Bellevue home, Harbor House, with Alzheimer's disease, and Darla knows hearing about her trip to the game would just confuse him. She's going because one of the Seahawks, receiver Koren Robinson, shares her concerns about the disease that gradually takes away the mind of a person, before slowly shutting them down. Robinson has faced Alzheimer's in his family, as well. His grandmother, Lillie Mae, died of the disease. "We were very close, always talking, until the end when we started to drift apart," Robinson said in a telephone interview from Seattle, just before the Seahawks flew to Green Bay for today's game. He got interested in trying to help, working with a local chapter of the National Alzheimer's Association, as many players work with charities, appearing at functions and helping bring publicity and donations. He donates money for every touchdown he scores, 100-yard receiving games, and so on. He has two touchdowns this season and leads the Seahawks with 10 catches for 151 yards. But he's not limiting himself to helping folks at home. He's taking one thing he does in Seattle - visiting with families affected by the disease, giving them game tickets and autographs - and taking it on the road to the cities where the Seahawks play. That includes Green Bay. "I just wanted to show my commitment, my dedication to the program," he said, "as well as to honor my grandmother." Having been close to a victim, he knows how it affects families, taking over much of their everyday lives. "It just lets some families get out and enjoy the day," he said. "There's not a lot of occasions where they can just sit and smile and have fun." And when his representatives called Green Bay to find someone, Darla's name came up. She's been an active volunteer, co-chairing the group's Memory Walk on Saturday and working to find prizes for walkers. She'll go with a longtime friend to cap the long weekend. "She got me some tickets for a concert a while back, so I'm paying her back," she said. "I haven't been at a Packer game for I'll bet you 20 years since Gene and I went." Gene and Darla have been married for 29 years. He was a driver for LCL Transport. "He knew in 1996 when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's that he had it," Darla said. "He used to say there's something wrong when I can't remember people and things. The thing that really bothered him was when he couldn't remember his directions (after being a truck driver)." He got worse two years ago after two back surgeries in a week. "He still recognizes me and I'm grateful for that," Darla said. "But when he looks at the pictures he does get confused. He doesn't remember the kids, but when they come to see him, it's different." She started working with the chapter after Gene went into a home. "I had a little trouble with depression, and one of Gene's caseworkers suggested I volunteer to do something with the Memory Walk," Darla said. "It was very fulfilling; I like to be around people." This year, she was named co-chairman for the event, held at the NEW Zoo. In the days before the event, her spare bedroom was filled with prizes for the walkers and floral displays. "It's surprising how many people turn out for this - it's amazing to me how many people I've met with parents who have passed away or some relative," she said. "In some cases, it's destroyed whole families." Her visits to her husband are good, but she admits it's tough. "Rare is the time when I don't come home and cry," she said. "I just take in stride my time with him." Today, however, she'll have a little time for herself, cheering the Packers - and No. 81 on the Seattle roster. "This is so great for him to give back, give of himself," she said. "You don't expect in today's society to see so many young people who care."