Thousands Participate In Walk To End Alzheimer's At Dream Keeper's Park

More than six million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s.

The Alzheimer’s Association hosted a walk Saturday to raise money for research to find a cure.

Over a thousand people showed up Saturday and many of them wore t-shirts with their family names on them.

They were honored to remember those who have died and those who are still fighting.

Angela Strong’s family has had 15 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

She said when she found out her husband had it, it was earth-shattering.

"It turns your world upside down,” said Strong. “Because he was active in his career, and had to stop immediately. And he just turned 60 and is in end-stage Alzheimer's."

Mykenzie Jones is another family member, and wanted to spend her day with Angela and the rest of her family raising money for something she’s passionate about.

"My family means a lot to me, and I really like this cause and want there to be a cure,” said Jones. “And I just feel like walking here is important."

People walked with flowers in their hands-each flower representing something different.

Some showing that a family member has died, while others showed they are actively caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.

Organizers say they hope people took away a sense of community.

"You kind of feel like, when you're going through this, you kind of feel alone, a little bit,” said Chrystal Medlock with the Alzheimer’s Association. “And it's nice when you can come here and someone else is holding the same color flower as you, and without talking to them you know, that they know, what you're going through, or what you've gone through."

Mykenzie says she hopes a cure is found so her family doesn’t have to go through the pain of losing someone again.

"It's just heartbreaking to see a family member not remember you, and it's also kind of gradual, it really drains a family," said Jones.

The Alzheimer’s Association hosts hundreds of these walks across the country in the fall and they host the one in Tulsa each year.