Thousands of Palm Beach County residents are expected to lace up their sneakers this Saturday for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a free event landing at Florida Atlantic University’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter. The event begins at 9 a.m.; a ceremony follows at 10 a.m., and the walk itself steps off at 10:30 a.m., with activities continuing until noon.
The event, which requires registration and a signed waiver but carries no entry fee, offers two route options so participants can choose their pace: a 2.4-mile long route or a 1.2-mile short route, according to act.alz.org. Those who raise at least $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt mailed through USPS, and all proceeds go toward the Alzheimer’s Association’s care, support and research programs. Organizers describe it as a rain-or-shine event, though severe weather could force a cancellation.
WPBF reported that the WPBF is happening in Palm Beach this weekend, noting the event’s status as the world’s largest fundraiser of its kind for Alzheimer’s awareness and research, a description that also appears on the Alzheimer’s Association’s own site. The organization says the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, according to FAU’s event calendar.
Why the Cause Hits Close to Home in Florida
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and over 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for them, per the FAU listing. Locally, the stakes are especially high: Palm Beach County ranks No. 10 in the country for the number of residents living with Alzheimer’s, with more than 50,000 affected, according to the Boca Raton Tribune…