Over $150,000 Raised at the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Williamsburg

Over 500 people were in attendance for the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer's® event in Williamsburg on Saturday, October 28. Participants gathered at the New Town Gazebo (5150 Main Street) ready to advance the fight to end Alzheimer's disease.

Held annually all over the nation, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's® is a walking fundraiser event that invites people of all ages and abilities to walk and raise funds for Alzheimer's care and research. Funds help the non-profit provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and cures for the disease.

The event began with the Promise Garden Opening Ceremony, which honored Alzheimer's patients and impacted families with Promise Garden flowers.

Each color of the flowers represented the motivations of the walkers: blue for those with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia, purple for those who have lost loved ones to dementia, yellow for caregivers, and orange for anyone who supports the cause and believes in a world without Alzheimer's. The white flower at the end of the walk symbolizes a cure for Alzheimer's and hope for the future.

The walk officially commenced at 10 a.m. Walkers could complete either a 1-mile or 3-mile route, aided by volunteers who passed out maps to walkers.

Among the 574 participants were 63 teams who walked to collectively raise $152,306 for the cause. More than half of the $228,000 goal was achieved within the roughly 2-hour walk.

AARP Virginia was one of the local sponsors and tabled at the event. Volunteers provided information on Brain Health and other resources offered by AARP.