On Saturday, November 5, the Alzheimer’s Association will host the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Dallas City Hall Plaza. The day’s activities will begin with a short ceremony at 8:30, and the walk will kick off at 9:00 a.m. Participants can choose between a one-mile or 5K route.
Participants must register in advance as individuals or teams and must set a fundraising goal. All donations are tax-deductible and will help fund the research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Registered participants will receive a flower that signifies their association with Alzheimer’s: blue flowers for those living with an Alzheimer’s patient, purple for those who have lost a loved one to the disease, yellow for caregivers, and orange for all who would like to live in a world without Alzheimer’s.
A white flower is also given to one person, usually a child, at the Promise Garden Ceremony as a symbol of hope for the first survivor of Alzheimer’s.
Participants who raise over $100 will also receive a T-shirt to commemorate the event.
As of Wednesday, 1,987 participants have registered, and more than $560,000 of the $800,000 goal has been pledged.
Although Alzheimer’s primarily affects older adults, it is not a normal part of aging. It is a progressive brain disease that impairs memory and cognitive function and is one of the most common causes of dementia.
The organization’s website describes dementia as a cognitive decline “severe enough to impair daily life and independent function.” It can affect behavior, feelings, and relationships. Over time, dementia can lead to disability and shortened lifespan.
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, a disease that kills more people each year than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. Recently, Gary Gaines, the head coach of the Texas high school football team portrayed in the book and movie Friday Night Lights, died from the disease.
Presently, there is no known cure for Alzheimer’s. However, the Dallas-based company Vaxxinity has created an Alzheimer’s vaccine that was fast-tracked by the FDA, The Dallas Express reported in May.
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s largest non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research and has invested over $300 million in 920 projects worldwide. The organization hopes to end the disease through targeted research.
