As of now, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association Website. The website also states that there is a worldwide effort to find better ways to treat the disease, which makes funding a necessity.

In Greene County, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the big fundraiser for the year. This year’s walk was held at Wana B Park in Carmichaels this past Saturday.

Melissa Cuppett, chairperson for the Greene County Alzheimer’s Committee, said the objective was to raise more than $45,000.

“Our goal is $47,500,” said Cuppett. “Right now we are at a little over $35,00, so we are hoping to get a few thousand more.”

Donations will be accepted until December 31.

In addition to walking, participants partook in something called the “promise garden,” which Cuppett said is unique to the Greene County walk.

“They are little flower pinwheels, and there are four colors that participants are able to choose from,” Cuppett said.  “They represent the four ways to support someone with Alzheimer’s.”

The colors that participants could choose from were purple, blue, orange and yellow.

“Purple is if you’ve lost someone to Alzheimer’s, blue is if you haven’t, orange is if you support a world without Alzheimer’s and yellow is if you’re a caregiver,” said Cuppett.

Once participants decide which color pinwheel best suits them, they wrote their name or the name of someone they are walking for on it.

Cuppett said that it’s “just as a way to walk and show support.”

A lot of the people who participated have been impacted by Alzheimer’s in some way, Cuppett said. She said there were also local agencies in attendance that were either caregivers or advocates of ending Alzheimer’s .

Cuppett said there are other fundraisers that take place during the year.

“In the spring we have a flower basket sale with a local nursery,” said Cuppett. “We have a car show in June at Carmichaels high school and then we have our mums sale in the few weeks leading up to the walk.”

She also said that every mum that is purchased can be made in honor or memory of someone. They will then line the walk with cards that represent each each mum.

The Greene County Walk to End Alzheimer’s drew around 200 participants this year, which is an increase from last year, Cuppett said. She believes the walk is a great opportunity for people to come together with a similar goal.

“Today, just like every other year,” Cuppett said. “Is just a great a day for us all to get together and support the cause.”