The start of Saturday’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s began before a single dollar was donated, a single person registered or a single step was taken. The walkers, many of them donning shades of purple and carrying spinning flowers, brought stories of their loved ones’ struggles with the disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and accounts for the majority of dementia cases. For some walkers, like Rachel, it was a chance to remember the fun times they had with grandparents before they died.

For others, like Jamie, Carla and Mark, the walk was about supporting their moms as they struggle with Alzheimer’s every day.

As of Monday morning, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Door County was approximately $8,000 short of its $107,500 goal. If you missed Saturday’s walk, you still have one more chance to participate when the Walk to End Alzheimer’s comes to Fish Creek this Saturday, Sept. 19, at Stella Maris Church.