Walk to End Alzheimer’s Draws Thousands Nationwide

Communities across the U.S. held Walk to End Alzheimer’s events this weekend, drawing hundreds to thousands of participants to raise awareness, honor loved ones and fund Alzheimer’s care and research. Large turnouts included Cambridge, Mass., where about 4,000 walkers gathered at North Point Park with a $1.4 million fundraising goal; Tucson’s Reid Park, which drew thousands and featured U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani; and Holyoke Community College’s event with more than 1,200 participants aiming to raise $242,000. New Mexico’s Albuquerque events reported roughly 700–800 participants and more than $170,000 raised toward a $218,000 goal, while Fayetteville’s walk of more than 1,000 people raised $164,000 toward a $200,000 target; smaller local efforts included Lynchburg’s roughly 300 walkers who have raised $95,000, York’s event with over 100 teams, Charlottesville’s hundreds of supporters raising several hundred thousand, and Bluffton’s community walk. The Alzheimer’s Association — whose Walk to End Alzheimer’s is its largest nationwide fundraiser, mobilizing chapters in more than 600 communities — said participants held “promise garden” ceremonies to honor loved ones and press for treatments and a cure. Organizers noted an estimated 6.7–7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s and encouraged continued donations and community involvement.