KANNAPOLIS — Get your walking shoes on and get ready to take part in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. 

On Sept. 21, Rowan and Cabarrus County residents will have the opportunity to participate in this special walk that has been held in the Rowan-Cabarrus area for well over a decade. 

This Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s, according to a release, is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

The Alzheimer’s Association — Western Carolina Chapter will be hosting the two-mile walk at the Atrium Health Ballpark located at 1 Cannon Baller Way in Kannapolis. For those unable to complete the two miles, a one-mile option will also be available.

Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. with an opening ceremony with an emcee starting at 10 a.m. with the walk set to begin at 10:30 a.m.

This year’s event, said Kara Harrington, senior director of marketing and communications, will look similar to walks in the past, which will include, in addition to the emcee and ceremony,  the special flower garden portion of the walk.

On walk day, as was noted in a release, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the poignant Promise Garden ceremony — a mission-focused experience that signifies solidarity in the fight against the disease. During the ceremony, walkers will carry flowers of various colors, each color representing their personal connection to the disease.

Following the walk, sponsors will have tables set up and therefore participants will have the opportunity to mingle and visit the tables and enjoy food that will be available.

Many walk teams and participants have already begun fundraising and planning activities for the event, Harrington said.

Those wishing to join in the event, may register as a participant or team captain or to learn more about how to become a sponsor or volunteer of Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Rowan-Cabarrus, by visiting act.alz.org/RowanCabarrus or calling 800-272-3900.

Hundreds of walkers have participated in past years, it was noted, and the hope is that this number of walkers will be matched or exceeded for this year’s event with a goal of $75,000 to be raised to support care and support programs and resources that will help locally. 

It was shared in a release that nearly seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease — a leading cause of death in the United States.

Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In North Carolina alone, there are more than 210,000 people living with the disease and 373,000 caregivers.

• Rowan County has an Alzheimer’s prevalence rate of 11.2 percent in its age 65 and older population.
• Cabarrus County has an Alzheimer’s prevalence rate of 11.1 percent in its age 65 and older population.

In addition to the walk in Rowan-Cabarrus counties, the Alzheimer’s Association hosts 16 other walks across North Carolina including: Alamance County, Asheville, Charlotte, Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln counties, Fayetteville, Guilford County, Henderson County, Unifour (Hickory), Iredell County and Lake Norman, Jacksonville, Moore County, Mount Airy, New Bern, Triangle (Raleigh and Durham), Wilmington and Winston-Salem. 

To register and receive the latest updates on any of this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s, go to alz.org/walk