Hundreds prepare for Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Purple Alzheimer’s shirts will be seen all over Lorain County on Oct. 4 as participants in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s show their support for Alzheimer’s research, care and support.

Registration is open for this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

While the Alzheimer’s Association is not gathering a large crowd because of the novel coronavirus pandemic restrictions, participants are encouraged to walk individually or in small groups in their neighborhoods to join the movement, according to a news release from the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We wanted to provide participants multiple ways to support the ongoing needs of families facing Alzheimer’s disease, so we have found a way for people to walk safely or people can just fund raise and make a donation without walking,” said Katie Mang, vice president of Fund Development for the Cleveland Area Chapter. “This year, the choice of how to participate is up to you, and we appreciate the hundreds of people who have already signed up to join us on that day.”

This year’s event cochairs are Jessica Wyatt, owner of Wyatt-DeMarco Massage Therapy & Wellness Center, and Tracie Crane, legal assistant for Ogletree Deakins.

The goal is to raise $120,000.

Last year, about 700 people participated in the walk at Black River Landing.

This year, the Walk Ceremony,

with the traditional Promise Garden Ceremony, will occur at 11 a.m. and will be livestreamed.

Crushers Stadium in Avon will be the site of the view-only Promise Garden location from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

People can go to http:// act.alz.org/lorainwalk to register for the event.

Mang encouraged participants to download the Walk to End Alzheimer’s app for additional virtual tools.

On Walk Day, participants are encouraged to:

• Log onto Mainstage, the event’s interactive online experience

• Livestream the opening Promise Garden Ceremony

• Walk in your neighborhood

• Track your steps using the Walk to End Alzheimer’s app

• Visit the Promise Garden location

The Lorain County Walk to End Alzheimer’s is one of four Walks the Cleveland Area Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is having this year, according to the release.

Last year, about 6,400 Northeast Ohio residents, living in the five counties that the Chapter serves, participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs, the release said.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive, fatal disease that kills nerve cells and tissues in the brain, affecting an individual’s ability to remember, think and plan.