Walk to End Alzheimer’s is an annual event that is held in more than 600 towns across America. The goal of the walk is to raise money in hopes of finding a cure for the disease. Anyone can take part in the walk even if they do not know someone with the disease. This year, the walk in Charleston was on September 20^th and it raised over $150,000 and 1,225 walkers participated. Each walker receives a pinwheel flower with a specific color that represents a part of the disease. A blue flower represents a person with Alzheimer’s; a purple flower is for someone who has died from the disease; a yellow flower is for someone who is caring for a person with Alzheimer’s, and an orange flower is for someone who supports the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s. People write messages on the flowers about how their lives have been impacted by Alzheimer’s, and at the end of the walk the flowers are placed in a garden. The walk begins at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina and continues through the park under the Ravenel Bridge and around Patriots Point. Everyone walks at their own pace, while volunteers cheer on the participants. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a great family event and a great way to help out for the cause of ending the disease.

Facts About Alzheimer’s:

1. Alzheimer’s is the 6^th leading cause of death in the United States.
2. More than 5 million Americans have the disease.
3. Someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s every 67 seconds.
4. 1 in 9 people aged 65 and older has Alzheimer’s and 1 in 3 people aged 85 and older has the disease.