Walk to End Alzheimer's is Saturday in downtown Mansfield

The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter invites residents to join the fight to end Alzheimer’s and other dementia by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s - North Central/Mansfield on Saturday at the Richland Carrousel Park, 75 N. Main St., Mansfield.

This year’s volunteer chair of the North Central Walk is Brenda Nelson.

The Walk opens at 9 a.m. The Promise Garden ceremony, a mission-focused experience that signifies solidarity in the fight against the disease, will begin at 10 a.m. The flower colors displayed represent people’s connection to Alzheimer’s − their personal reasons to end the disease. The walk will follow the ceremony.

“As we enter this first-ever era of treatment, we are closer than ever to stopping Alzheimer’s,” said Erica Parnisari, walk manager. “We are fighting for anyone facing the disease today or tomorrow, striving to give them more time with their families through earlier and better access to treatments. But to get there, we need each person in our community to help us raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Each dollar we raise moves us closer toward that goal.”

Across the U.S. each fall, more than 600 walks take place. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s supports free educational programs and support groups, family/caregiver care services and advancements in treatment and research.

There is no fee to register or minimum fundraising requirement. For more information, visit alz.org/nwohio/walk or call 419-537-1999.

There are 236,200 Ohioans 65 and older living with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2024 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. A total of 414,000 Ohio caregivers provide 624 million hours of unpaid care each year valued at over $11.4 billion. More than 4,900 Ohioans died from Alzheimer’s in 2021.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s or other dementia and to access free local support and resources, visit alz.org/nwohio or call the Northwest Ohio Chapter at 419-537-1999 or the 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Walk to End Alzheimer's is Saturday in downtown Mansfield