The Walk To End ALZ Comes To St. Cloud October 3rd

Plenty of important things are happening around Central Minnesota this fall, but on Saturday, October 3rd, something meaningful will take place at Lake George in St. Cloud.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is bringing people together to remember those who have been lost and those who are fighting.

The 2026 Walk to End ALZ helps support those currently living with the disease, stands beside caregivers, and allows you to raise money in the hope that someday, Alzheimer’s will no longer take people away from the people who love them.

And if you think Alzheimer’s is simply a disease that causes someone to forget things, you couldn't be more misinformed.

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THE FACTS ABOUT ALZ

More than 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s. About 1 in 9 people age 65 and older has the disease. One in three older Americans dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

I think one of the most frightening statistics is that Alzheimer’s deaths have more than doubled since 2000, while deaths from heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death, have decreased.

On top of these staggering numbers, the horrible impact of ALZ doesn't stop with the person who has the diagnosis; It affects everyone who is associated with that person.

THE NUMBERS IN MINNESOTA ALONE ARE STAGGERING

According to the Alzheimer's Association:

In Minnesota alone, an estimated 102,000 people age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s.
Another 168,000 family caregivers support people living with dementia.
Those Minnesota caregivers provide approximately 231 million hours of unpaid care, valued at about $6.3 billion.

HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO AFFORD THIS?

That's UNPAID. In a time when basic groceries and regular bills are out of reach, now we've got spouses helping spouses get dressed. Daughters and sons making phone calls and keeping track of medications. Families trying to figure out how to keep a loved one safe. People who may have to cut back their hours at work, leave work early or completely change their lives to care for someone they love.

It's a hard pill to swallow to know that eventually, the person who once knew your name, your birthday, your favorite song, or the stories you have shared for decades may no longer remember those things; and may not remember you...at all.

BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT MATTERS AND MAKES A DIFFERENCE

This year's St. Cloud Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place Saturday, October 3rd at the Lake George Municipal Complex. Registration begins at 9 a.m., followed by the ceremony at 10 a.m. The walk will begin immediately after the ceremony. So far, 217 people have registered, and more than $59,000 has already been raised toward this year's $145,000 goal. That's about 41 percent of the way there, but there is still a long way to go.

NO REGISTRATION FEE

There is no registration fee to participate, although participants are encouraged to make a personal donation and commit to raising money to help fight Alzheimer's. Everyone who registers will receive a Promise Garden flower. The color you choose represents your connection to the disease.

BLUE - A blue flower represents someone currently living with Alzheimer's.
PURPLE - Purple represents someone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer's.
YELLOW -Yellow represents someone who is currently caring for a person with Alzheimer's.
ORANGE - Orange represents people supporting the cause and hoping for a world without Alzheimer's.

Look around the Promise Garden during the ceremony, and you'll see something more powerful than a collection of colorful flowers. You'll see people's stories...You'll see husbands and wives...You'll see sons and daughters...You'll see people remembering parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors, and you'll see caregivers who are still in the middle of the fight.

THE MONEY RAISED MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE

The money raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer's supports the Alzheimer's Association's work in care, support and research.

And the need for that work is enormous.

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that health and long-term care costs for people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias will reach $409 billion in the United States in 2026, not including the value of unpaid family caregiving.

Nearly 13 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia. In 2025 alone, those caregivers provided more than 19 billion hours of unpaid care valued at approximately $446 billion.

WE ALL NEED HELP

Those numbers are staggering, but behind every number is a person, and behind that person is a family.

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BE A PART OF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Everyone who participates in the walk must register before walking. There is no registration fee, and everyone who registers and raises or donates at least $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer's T-shirt.

The event is held rain or shine.
Strollers are welcome, but skateboards, bikes, skates, and other wheeled footwear are not allowed.
Dogs are welcome as well, but they must remain on a leash.
Volunteers are also needed to help with setup and cleanup, registration, water stations, and the Promise Garden flowers.
You don't have to have a family member with Alzheimer's to participate.
You don't have to be a caregiver.

You don't have to know someone who has been diagnosed. Someday, that person could be someone you love, and that's really what this walk is about. It's about the mother who doesn't remember her daughter's name...The husband who needs help getting through his day...The grandfather whose stories are slowly disappearing...The daughter who has become a caregiver...The family sitting around a kitchen table trying to figure out what comes next, and the hope that someday, another family won't have to go through it.

MARK OCTOBER 3RD ON YOUR CALENDAR

On October 3rd, hundreds of people will gather at Lake George in St. Cloud and walk together, and some will simply walk because they want to help make sure Alzheimer's doesn't get the final word.