Photo Courtesy of the Alzheimer’s Association
By Chelsea Meyer
Rock River Current

ROCKFORD — Walkers will lace up their shoes Saturday to hike downtown for the Alzheimer’s Association’s “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” charity event.

Last year, the walk was virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, with safety protocols in place such as mask-wearing, hand-sanitizing stations and social distancing, it’s back in person.

Taylor Adolphson, manager of the Alzheimer’s Association, says her favorite part of the walk is the flower garden ceremony.

“It’s so special. We have four flowers and each color represents something different,” she said. “If you carry a blue flower, you are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you carry a purple flower, you have lost someone to the disease. If you carry yellow, you are a caregiver, and if you carry orange, you are a general supporter of the cause.”

Throughout the country every year, the Alzheimer’s Association has roughly 600 walks that help raise funds to support all research efforts for Alzheimer’s. There are 24 such events in Illinois.

The ceremony for the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s” begins at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:30 a.m. If you’re interested in joining the walk, click HERE.

An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in 2021, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s and dementia deaths increased 16% in America during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article is by Chelsea Meyer. Email her at chelsea@b103fm.com.