The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting local residents to unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions by participating in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. The Walk will take place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at Winona Lake Senior Center, 1310 Park Ave.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s® is more than a walk. It is an experience for hundreds of participants in Warsaw who will learn about Alzheimer’s disease and how to get involved with this critical cause, from advocacy opportunities, the latest in Alzheimer’s research and clinical trial enrollment to support programs and services.

Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and is now the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.  s baby boomers age, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease will rapidly escalate, increasing well beyond today’s estimated 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s.

In addition to the Walk, registrants will receive a Promise Flower, making a commitment to fulfill their promise to remember, to honor, to care and to fight Alzheimer’s disease by participating in the Promise Garden. Through color, these Promise Flowers represent the diverse reasons participants have gathered, and each Promise Flower will carry a personally hand-written message to further strengthen their dedication.

Walkers who have lost someone to Alzheimer’s will receive purple flowers.  Caregivers and those walking in honor of an individual living with the disease will receive yellow flowers. Individuals with the disease will receive blue flowers. Those who may not have a personal connection to the disease, but support our vision of a world without Alzheimer’s receive orange flowers.

Once this message is written, participants come together for a heartfelt ceremony prior to walking. Together, the Promise Flowers create a dynamic, colorful and meaningful garden. Participants are then welcome to stroll through the garden post-Walk, read each other’s stories and take their Promise Flower home to remember their Walk experience and their loved ones.

Last year’s Warsaw Walk to End Alzheimer’s raised close to $23,000. This year’s goal is $35,000.

“There has never been a greater need for the citizens of Warsaw to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by participating in Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said Alzheimer’s Association Greater Indiana Chapter Executive Director Heather Hershberger. “Funds raised will provide care and support services to the thousands of Hoosiers living with Alzheimer’s, while also contributing to advancing critically-needed research.”

Start or join a team today by visiting alz.org/Indiana.  For more information, call 800-272-3900.