Residents to Join Together for Walk to End Alzheimer’s During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

NAPLES, Fla. — For Sherri Wolfe and Venita Winslett, the fight against Alzheimer’s and other dementias is deeply personal. Wolfe walks in memory of her husband, who died from dementia. Winslett walks for her husband, who passed away from Alzheimer’s. Though their stories differ, both share the same hope — to help end the disease that changed their lives.

Residents will have the opportunity to join Wolfe and Winslett during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Collier County on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Baker Park, 50 Riverside Circle in Naples. Registration begins at 8 a.m., followed by an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. The walk will start immediately afterward.

“I walk so I can help those who can’t and also to show my late husband that we will find a cure so nobody has to struggle with this horrible disease,” Wolfe said.

The event arrives during National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and National Family Caregiver Month — a time set aside to honor those living with Alzheimer’s and the millions of caregivers who support them. Advocates say awareness is especially crucial in Florida, a state heavily impacted by the disease. Families now have hope with the emergence of new treatments that, for the first time, can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Florida has the second-highest number of residents living with Alzheimer’s in the nation, with more than 580,000 people diagnosed. Another 870,000 Floridians serve as unpaid caregivers, providing around-the-clock support for loved ones living with the disease.

In Collier County alone, an estimated 16,300 residents — or 12.4 percent of those over age 65 — are living with Alzheimer’s.

Across the U.S., more than 7 million people are currently living with Alzheimer’s, and roughly 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

During Walk day, participants will take part in the Promise Garden ceremony, a symbolic, mission-driven tradition meant to honor the personal stories of those impacted. Walkers carry colored flowers, with each color representing their individual connection to Alzheimer’s.

“I feel it is so important to get support and awareness for Alzheimer’s, and you don't understand until you know someone who is personally going through it,” Winslett said. “The amount of people speaks volumes on how prevalent it is.”

Registration and updates for the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Collier County are available at alz.org/CollierCountyWalk.

About the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s®

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The event began in 1989 as the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® and has since grown into a nationwide movement.

About the Alzheimer’s Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization focused on Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Its mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia by accelerating global research, promoting risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. For more information, visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900.