Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Cedar Rapids starts Saturday morning

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held in Cedar Rapids on Saturday and participants have the option to walk from home or at the McGrath Amphitheatre beginning at 8 a.m. Walkers who choose to walk from home can download the Walk to End Alzheimer's app to participate through augmented reality and activities.

To register and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit alz.org/walk.

On Walk day, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with Promise Garden flowers which signify solidarity in the fight against the disease. The colors of the Promise Garden flowers — purple, yellow, blue and orange — represent the different reasons why people walk to end this disease.

This year, the Alzheimer’s Association has a goal to raise $141,000 at the Cedar Rapids Walk. The money raised will help the Association provide care and support to families in Iowa while also advancing critical research toward methods of treatment and ultimately a cure.

The health and safety of the participants, volunteers and staff are the top priorities. All local events will implement safety protocols including physical distancing, contactless registration, hand sanitizing stations and more. All Walk attendees are asked to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or wear a mask, per CDC guidelines around large outdoor events. Masks will be available on-site.

More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease — a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Iowa alone, there are more than 66,000 people living with the disease and 73,000 caregivers.

Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

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. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer's Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Visit alz.org or call (800) 272-3900.