ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Thousands of people gathered at the Detroit Zoo Sunday morning for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, each carrying a personal story but sharing one common goal — more research and a cure for the disease that affects millions of families worldwide.
A community united by loss
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For many walkers, the event was deeply personal. Jennifer Kohl, a Beverly Hills resident, said the disease has touched nearly everyone in some way.
“Everybody does know somebody or will know somebody, unfortunately, that has gone through it or their family members have gone through it too,” Kohl said.
Detroit resident Dennis Burch said the disease has hit close to home for his family.
“I have several family members that have suffered from Alzheimer’s,” Burch said.
His wife, Jessica Jansen Burch, was taking part in the walk for the first time.
“This is my first walk and I’m here to support my family,” she said.
Volunteers, advocates show up in force
Austin Adair, a volunteer and home care agency owner, said the turnout reflected just how many lives Alzheimer’s has touched.
“6,500 people here today supporting the Alzheimer’s Association, which is near and dear to my heart. I own a home care agency and I love this type of work because I get to see a lot of different people,” Adair said.
Adair said hearing participants’ stories throughout the day made the event especially meaningful.
“The whole day we’ve been hearing all of these wonderful, amazing stories,” he said. “But the best part is they’re supporting a wonderful cause.”
More than a walk
The sea of purple shirts was a visual reminder of the shared mission bringing thousands of strangers together. Kohl said the sense of community was palpable.
“It’s really nice, you know, seeing everybody in the purple shirts and you feel like a community,” she said.
For Burch, the walk was a reminder that Alzheimer’s deserves more everyday attention — not just on event days.
“Family is huge in this event. In that regard, I’m glad that we have something like this and like you say, our day to day sometime were always thinking about everything else, but something like this deserves attention,” Burch said.
The walk served as both a fundraiser and a rallying point for families navigating one of the most difficult diagnoses a loved one can receive — a chance to step away from the weight of caregiving and walk alongside thousands who understand.
