Annual Alzheimer’s walk raises $945K

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — On Sunday, 3,500 people gathered at CAS for the annual Columbus Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Organization leadership said the event is its largest annual fundraising, awareness, and support event.

NBC4 is a proud sponsor of the event and some members of NBC4’s crew joined in at the walk.

Organizers said each color pinwheel represents a different connection to the disease, which affects millions of people; the event is showing those people that they are not alone.

“For those who have Alzheimer’s, it can be a really isolating experience, and same for a caregiver,” Columbus Walk to End Alzheimer’s walk director Ellie Thien said. “And so it’s really important that we all just come together for them.”

The event raised more than $945,000, which will be put toward Alzheimer’s research and care in central Ohio and around the country.

“My favorite part of the day is always our Promise Garden ceremony, where everyone who has their pinwheels, flowers, they all lift them up together,” Thien said. “In this, like this beautiful garden display that just shows everybody’s reason for being here today.”

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