Alzheimer's and other dementias take more lives in the United State than breast and prostate cancers combined and the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is holding a series of walks to fund research to help end the disease.

May 8, 2024, Press Release from the Alzheimer’s Association: TOLEDO, OH—May 8, 2024—The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter has announced the dates and locations for eight local 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

A large groups of residents gathered at the Ohio State University of Lima to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's.  This event at OSU Lima is just one of 626 national walks that annually raise money for Alzheimer's and other dementia research.

“I want a cure” exclaimed Debra Riefstahl and that is why her and her family are taking part for the first time in the “Walk to End Alzheimer’s”. Her mother passed way from the disease and she knows the toll it can take on a family

 “Alzheimer’s is a very vicious disease I feel,” adds Riefstahl. “Because my mother didn’t know who I was when she passed away, or her husband of over 50 years.”

The walk is not only a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association, but a way for people who have been diagnosed with the disease, care for someone with the disease or have lost someone to Alzheimer’s to know that they are not going through this alone. 

It's the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and is the only cause of death in the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured, or slowed.

Hundreds of people gathered at Ohio State Lima's campus for one unified purpose - a walk to raise awareness and money to help end Alzheimer's disease in West Central Ohio.