Thousands across the metro Washington region will unite this fall in a sea of purple to raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association at Walk to End Alzheimer’s®, the world’s largest fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is staggering. Nearly 7 million Americans are currently living with the disease, and more than 11 million family members and friends are providing their unpaid care. Health and long-term care costs for people living with dementia are projected to reach $360 billion this year and nearly $1 trillion in 2050.
“There has never been a greater need for the community to join in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease by participating in Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” said Kate Rooper, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association National Capital Area Chapter. “Funds raised through the Walk will provide information, education and support to people living with Alzheimer’s and their families and caregivers, while also contributing to advancing critically needed research.”
More than 600 Walks are taking place across the country. The National Capital Area Chapter will hold six local Walks, including one in Washington, DC on Saturday, Sept. 28. As of Sept. 12, more than 260 teams and 1,200 people have registered.
Among those returning to the DC Walk are Team Tree’s Champions of Liberty, named for Charles J. Ogletree, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School and an acclaimed lawyer, author, activist and civil rights leader. In 2016, Ogletree shared that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He raised awareness and advocated for Alzheimer’s research before passing away in August 2023.
The team of current and former employees at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) knew Ogletree, or ‘Tree,’ when he was the Deputy Director of PDS. Described by the team as a ‘colleague, mentor, teacher, leader and beloved friend’ the team name includes the words ‘Champions of Liberty’ from the PDS motto. As of Sept. 12, Tree’s Champions of Liberty has raised more than $32,000, making them the current top fundraising team of the DC Walk.
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s in DC is the cornerstone of the chapter’s Walk program, but there are five other opportunities for those looking for a Walk closer to home, including Walk to End Alzheimer’s Prince George’s County at the National Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 26. Started ten years ago by former County Executive Rushern Baker and a group of passionate volunteers, the Prince George’s County Walk has grown in participation and excitement each year. This year’s Walk, chaired by Walter Kirkland, founding president of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County, will take place at the National Harbor on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Returning is top team The Power of Love, led by captain Irma Nicholson, whose husband has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past 16 years. Says Nicholson, “With Prince George’s County having the fourth highest prevalence of any U.S. County of people living with Alzheimer’s [according to research released at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2023], the alarm needs to be sounded. We are leading the fight to help find a cure for this debilitating disease.”
In addition to the Walks in DC and Prince George’s County, the chapter will hold Walks in La Plata on Sept. 21, Reston on Sept 29, Manassas on Oct. 19, and Winchester on Oct. 26. Participants will learn about resources, support and volunteer opportunities and participate in a poignant Promise Garden ceremony — an experience that signifies the solidarity of the Walk participants in the fight against the disease as each person holds a Promise Garden flower representing their personal reason to end the disease.
Participation in Walk to End Alzheimer’s is free. Walkers are encouraged to raise funds. For more information and/or to register, visit alz.org/ncawalks or call 800.272.3900.