Every 67 seconds someone in America develops Alzheimer’s disease. By 2050, someone will develop the disease every 33 seconds and the numbers could reach a staggering 16 million.

On September 11, thousands of Portland residents will unite in a movement to reclaim the future for millions at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s®. The Portland Walk to End Alzheimer’s – held this year at Portland International Raceway – is celebrating its monumental 25^th anniversary. In 2015, the Portland walk raised $431,000, contributing to more than $77 million raised nationwide for Alzheimer’s care and research. This year, our fundraising goal is $525,000, and we hope to register 500 teams and 5,000 walkers!

Walk participants will learn about Alzheimer’s disease and the Association, including advocacy opportunities, clinical studies participation, and programs and services. The event will include live music, a bus rally, a photo booth and a classic car show. Walkers will also pay tribute to those affected by Alzheimer's disease with a poignant Promise Garden ceremony. Through colored flowers, the Promise Garden ceremony represents the diverse reasons participants have gathered to participate. It also calls for participants to come together and make a commitment to fulfill their promise to remember, to honor, to care and to fight Alzheimer’s disease.

Portlander Anna Schwab is participating in the Portland Walk for the third year in a row. She walks in honor of her father – who is currently living with early-onset Alzheimer's – and her grandfather, who lived with Alzheimer's before his passing. Anna believes that, “…someday there will be a cure and our walk can finally have a “Survivor’s Circle” like so many other walks.”

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research programs. Currently there are more than 600 Walks across the country.

Support the more than 62,000 Oregonians living with Alzheimer’s by registering for the Portland Walk to End Alzheimer’s or making a donation to our Oregon Chapter Friends team at http://act.alz.org/goto/donatetoday.

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2016 Walk to End Alzheimer's - Portland, OR
Sunday, September 11, 2016

Portland International Raceway
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, OR 97217

Registration: 10 a.m.
Walk: 12:15 p.m.