The Alzheimer’s Association of Western New York will hold its Walk To End Alzheimer’s starting at Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk Saturday, Sept. 21.

Roughly 550 people are expected to take part. The event includes local vendors, basket and 50/50 giveaways, refreshments, photo opportunities and a Promise Garden. The garden is filled with pinwheel flowers in colors that represent reasons people walk: purple to honor someone they lost to dementia, yellow for care partners, blue to honor those living with dementia and orange to show general support of efforts to end Alzheimer’s disease. The flowers are given to each registered participant who can then personalize them and carry them as they walk or plant them in the garden.

The event site opens at 9 a.m. with access to vendors, entertainment and food. A short opening ceremony at 10:05 a.m. will be led by radio host Dan Palmer of WDOE radio, a 2016 inductee into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame, and will include comments from Brenda Symans, walk chairwoman from the Center for Elder Law and Justice in Dunkirk.

Participants who fundraise at least $100 will earn an official 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer’s purple t-shirt, with other incentives earned at higher fundraising levels. Last year, the Dunkirk Walk raised more than $40,000. Local fundraising is bolstered by corporate support from platinum sponsors, including WDCX Radio.

“We’re a part of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s because we want to bring love and hope and encouragement to families -just like ours- that have been affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementia,” said on-air host Neil Boron. “We also want to help provide for the needs of the Alzheimer’s Association in advocacy, education, research, support, respite care, etc. but most importantly, we want to help find a cure and end Alzheimer’s forever.”

The law firm Cellino and Barnes has been a sponsor for several years.

“Many diseases that tormented mankind for centuries were thought to be impossible to stop…from smallpox to tuberculosis to diphtheria to polio. Now science has eradicated these and many other “incurable” diseases,” says partner Steve Barnes. “Together we will add Alzheimer’s to this list.”

Great Lakes Health System is another Platinum sponsor.

“We are proud to partner with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness and funds for the millions of individuals living with Alzheimer’s as well as those who care for them,” said Jody L. Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health and Great Lakes Health System of Western New York. “The Walk to End Alzheimer’s unites our entire community – family, friends, co-workers, and more – in a display of combined strength and dedication in the fight against this devastating disease.”

Aetna has returned for a second year of high-level support of the event. Local sponsors of the Dunkirk Walk include Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Nestle Purina.

To register, visit alz.org/Walk. For more information, call 626-0600.