Tulsa Walk To End Alzheimer's Called Overwhelming Success

This year's Walk to End Alzheimer's in Tulsa overwhelmed even the foundation that has held the event for 19 years. They say Green Country residents raised funds in numbers that boost the local event to the number one Walk in the U.S. so far this year.

"Last year we made about $380,000 on this walk; this year we're going to have a chance to challenge $600,000," said Alzheimer's Association CEO Mark Fried. 

"To have such a huge jump from one year to the next is just tremendous."

Fried said participants see a chance to change the landscape of the disease that affects so many, so profoundly.

"We already know that this disease touches so many people," he said. "It touches over 60,000 Oklahomans who currently have the disease plus another 218,000 who are in the role of caregiver."

The disease is heartbreaking for a family to navigate, so organizers try to give participants in the Walk a chance to laugh together and know they are not alone in this fight, according to Frey

"We know that Alzheimer's Disease is going to be around tomorrow, so today we're going to do everything we can to make this a fun and good day."