Thousands participate in Columbus' Walk to End Alzheimer's

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Sunday was the annual central Ohio Walk to End Alzheimer's, which NBC4 was a proud sponsor of once again.

This walk is aimed at driving awareness and raising money to fight and end the disease while also bringing people together..   

“It's like a huge support group. People come together who need support,” said Vince McGrail, executive director of the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio. “People in the middle of this journey that they're givers. Those who've lost someone to this disease, there's too many of them.” 

About 3,000 people came together for the walk. Out of 625 walks in the country, Columbus has the 11th largest fundraising walk in the country – leading to support for education, caregiver support and more.   

“We are driving and research is going to help with treatment, diagnosis, understanding how to reduce your risk in the future and helping one another,” McGrail said.  

NBC4 evening anchor Colleen Marshall shared details about the impact these walks, and research has had over the past two decades.   

“When my mother was diagnosed in 2004, what we were told is there's really nothing you can do for her but keep her comfortable and watch her go through this,” Marshall said. “Now, they say early intervention, we have drugs that can remove the amyloid proteins from the brain. We can slow it down. They can't cure it yet, but they can have so much progress in treatments.” 

The goal is to raise $1 million this year in the hopes of eventually finding a cure for the over six million Americans facing this disease.   

“It's hard to describe it until you're going through it, but the allies' supporters, you'll see people with Alzheimer's walking,” Marshall said. “That's why that flower garden is so important. You can tell where everybody is in this disease. I carry purple in memory of someone and it'd be great someday to see white in honor of somebody who's cured.” 

For more information on how you can support the Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio, click here.