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Fairfield Walkers Step Out To Help End Alzheimer's Disease

NORWALK, Conn. — The annual fundraising Walk to End Alzheimer's disease stepped off Sunday morning at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, with more than 2,000 participants coming from Fairfield County and beyond.

More than 2,000 people turn out to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Sunday morning.

More than 2,000 people turn out to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Sunday morning.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
More than 2,000 people turn out to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Sunday morning.

More than 2,000 people turn out to participate in the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk on Sunday morning.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
Walkers register for Sunday's event.

Walkers register for Sunday's event.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
A girl with stuffed animals available at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

A girl with stuffed animals available at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the teams entered at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

One of the teams entered at the Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the teams at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

One of the teams at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the teams at Sunday's alzheimer's walk.

One of the teams at Sunday's alzheimer's walk.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
From left: Alzheimer Association Connecticut President Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, Lucia Rilling, Max Rosenberg (whose grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's) and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.

From left: Alzheimer Association Connecticut President Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, Lucia Rilling, Max Rosenberg (whose grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's) and Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the team's at Sunday's Alzheimer's walk.

One of the team's at Sunday's Alzheimer's walk.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
Some of the members of one the largest teams at Sunday's event - Team Nanna.

Some of the members of one the largest teams at Sunday's event - Team Nanna.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the teams holds a banner at Sunday's walk.

One of the teams holds a banner at Sunday's walk.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
The start of Sunday's walk.

The start of Sunday's walk.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
One of the many teams at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

One of the many teams at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman
Some of the Promise Flowers planted at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Some of the Promise Flowers planted at Sunday's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Photo Credit: Skip Pearlman

The event featured live music, a Zumba warmup, a tribute ceremony, and activities for children, all while the walkers went through their paces to earn money for a good cause: the Alzheimer's Association.

Participants were able to choose a Promise Flower with a color representing the reason for walking. After the ceremony, flowers were placed in the Promise Garden.

"We're here not only to raise significant funds to end this disease, but we're also here to be able to have families support each other through their loss - either someone they have lost in the past, or someone they are currently dealing with who has the disease," said Eleanora Tornatore-Mikesh, president and chief executive officer of the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter. 

"So the walk is more than fundraising, it's also a place where families can find other families going through the same process."

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling said: "It's so important, because if you watch the news you know there's been significant progress in determining the cause of Alzheimer's, and it's because of the research that's being funded. 

"The first step in finding a cure is finding a cause, so it's important to see the cheerleaders here, Max Rosenberg, a 12-year-old (Max's grandmother suffers from the disease, and he spoke to the crowd)... getting our young people involved. The fund-raising, and the search for a cure continues with our young people. Working together, we will find a cure."

The annual walk raised more than $358,000 for the Alzheimer's Association. 

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