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Alzheimer’s disease affects millions globally. On Sunday, November 9, Jacksonville will come together for a walk to honor loved ones and support efforts to find a cure.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For Abbey Havre, the battle against Alzheimer’s is deeply personal. She participates in the walk to honor her grandmother, who is affected by the condition. Similarly, Reese Dickerson joins the cause for his mother and grandmother, both of whom have been touched by the disease.
Regardless of their personal connections, everyone walking shares a unified goal: to contribute to ending Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Residents from across Northeast Florida are invited to join Havre and Dickerson at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Jacksonville. The event will be held on Sunday, November 9, at the University of North Florida’s J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater. Registration starts at 1 p.m., with the opening ceremony at 2 p.m., and the walk will follow.
First Coast News Anchor Anthony Austin will host the ceremony.
“Although my grandmother is physically healthy for her age, witnessing her mental decline is incredibly difficult,” Havre shared. “Alzheimer’s is prevalent in my family, and I am determined to help find a cure before it affects my sister, her children, or myself. It’s too late for my great-grandmother and grandmother. I hope we can prevent it from being too late for the rest of us.”
In Florida, more than 580,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, supported by over 870,000 unpaid caregivers, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In Duval County, an estimated 17,300 residents, or 12.1% of those over 65, are living with Alzheimer’s.
Nationwide, more than 7 million Americans are currently living with the disease, and an estimated 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
On Walk Day, participants will take part in the Promise Garden ceremony, a touching tribute that symbolizes solidarity and hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Walkers carry flowers of different colors, each representing a personal connection to the disease.
“I walk for my mom and now for my grandma,” Dickerson said. “I walk because I can. I walk for those who can’t. I’ll walk until we find a cure, because Alzheimer’s will not win.”
To register or get the latest updates on the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Jacksonville, visit alz.org/JacksonvilleWalk.
