2023 Alzheimer's Walk to be Held at Valley Strong Ballpark in August

Tulare and Kings County residents are invited to participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which will be changing its month and location this year.

The 2023 Walk will be held on Sunday, August 20, at Valley Strong Ballpark, home of the Visalia Rawhide, before the team's game with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

"This year, we wanted to change the venue," said Sherrie Wallace, committee member who has chaired the event for the past four years. "Everything else will be the same."

Participants will again complete a two-mile walk and learn about Alzheimer’s disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment, and support programs and services from the Alzheimer’s Association. Participants will also take part in a tribute ceremony to honor those affected by the disease.

"We just thought a new location would rally the community to come out for the cause," said Wallace. "Also, the Visalia Rawhide are a great community partner and we were excited to partner with them."

"The Rawhide are ecstatic to host the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's at Valley Strong Ballpark this year," said Markus Hagglund, the team's assistant general manager. "Great strides have been made in Alzheimer's research in recent years and that is due in large part to the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.

"We have had the opportunity to partner with them in recent years and are ecstatic to be able to further use our platform and venue to promote their mission," he added.

Walk participants will be able to stay for the game at no cost.

Heather McCarthy is the new manager of the Tulare-Kings Counties Walk to End Alzheimer's. She has a strong history in community outreach, including fundraising for various organizations such as the American Cancer Society, and serving as team ambassador during the Super Bowl Champion season of the Los Angeles Rams.

More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and the only disease among the top 10 with causes that cannot be cured, prevented or even slowed. Additionally, more than 15 million family and friends provide care to people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the U.S.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association has mobilized millions of Americans with its annual fundraising walks.

People are encouraged to sign up as a team captain, join a team or register to walk as an individual at alz.org/walk.

For more information about the walk, call (661) 437-8148.