Walk to End Alzheimer's Set for October 5th

Tulare and Kings County residents are encouraged to participate in the Alzheimer's Association's Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday October 5 at Valley Strong Ballpark, home of the Visalia Rawhide.

"The Rawhide are ecstatic yet again 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."

"They've been wonderful to work with," said Walk Manager Heather McCarthy about the Rawhide. "We came up with a proposal and they gave us way more than we asked for."

On Walk Day

Participants will complete a walk and learn about Alzheimer's disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment, and programs and services from the Alzheimer's Association.

Participants will honor those affected by Alzheimer's with the Promise Garden ceremony - a mission-focused experience signifying solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers represent people's connection to Alzheimer's - their personal reasons to end the disease.

Purple is for those who have lost someone to dementia, yellow is for people caring for someone with dementia, orange is for those who advocate for the cause, and blue is for people who have dementia. At the end of this powerful moment, a single white flower emerges as a tribute to the first survivor of Alzheimer's disease.

Registration for the Walk to End Alzheimer's (for those who don't register online) begins at 8 a.m. A 15-minute ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

This year's goal is $31,000 and more than $8,000 has already been raised, mainly through fundraisers, according to McCarthy.

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.

To sign up as a team captain or member, or to register to walk as an individual, visit http://act.alz.org/WTEATK2024. People still concerned about COVID can still participate by walking around their own neighborhoods.

"They can walk wherever they feel comfortable," said McCarthy.

There are also volunteer opportunities, including setting up and taking down booths for walk day, working in the booths, helping with registration, and educating the community about the disease and the walk at events and club meetings.

The committee is also looking for "people to help us make phone calls to get people to register and to reach out to those who helped us in the past," said McCarthy.

For more information, visit act.alz.org/WTEATK2024 or call (320) 444-3439.