Why I’ll Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Abilene Every Year

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s has always been personal for me. My mother struggled with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and my wife Donna helped care for both of her grandparents as they battled these devastating diseases during the final years of their lives.

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That’s why I’m asking the Big Country to join me Saturday, September 26, for the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Abilene at Grover Nelson Park, 2070 Zoo Lane, beside the Abilene Zoo.

Alzheimer’s Has Touched My Family

There are moments from those years that I will never forget.

Donna and I would visit her grandmother, and somehow, she would recognize me. She’d smile and say, “Rudy, how is Donna doing? How’s my granddaughter?”

Donna would be standing right beside me.

Then her grandmother would look at Donna and say, “Nurse, can you get us an extra chair for him to sit in?”

Those moments broke our hearts.

I miss my mother. I miss Donna’s grandparents. I miss my dad and so many family members who are no longer with us.

What I don’t miss is Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Abilene Is Walking Toward a Cure

The goal for this year’s Abilene Walk to End Alzheimer’s is $155,000.

So far, 153 participants and 48 teams have raised $45,472, putting the Abilene walk at about 29% of its fundraising goal.

Funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s support the Alzheimer’s Association’s care, support and research efforts.

There is no registration fee, although every participant is encouraged to make a personal donation and help raise funds for the cause.

Walk One Mile or Two

Registration and event booths open at 9 a.m., with the ceremony and walk beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Participants can choose a one-mile route, which is one lap, or an extended two-mile route consisting of two laps.

Children should also be registered to participate.

Registered walkers who raise at least $100 can receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt. Organizers recommend reaching that fundraising amount at least four weeks before the walk to receive the shirt in time.

Every Flower Tells a Story

One of the most meaningful parts of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the Promise Garden.

Each registered participant receives a flower representing their personal connection to Alzheimer’s and dementia.

1. Blue represents someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.
2. Purple honors someone who has been lost to the disease.
3. Yellow represents someone currently supporting or caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s.
4. Orange represents those who support the cause and the vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and other dementia.

For me, those flowers are another reminder that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a story.

Join the Abilene Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Abilene is Saturday, September 26, at Grover Nelson Park, 2070 Zoo Lane.

Registration and activities begin at 9 a.m., followed by the ceremony and walk at 9:30 a.m.

You can register, start a team, volunteer or donate through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s website at alz.org/walk.

I believe there has to be a way to defeat Alzheimer’s and dementia. Research takes money, and raising that money begins with people deciding they want to make a difference.

Someday, I pray another family won’t have to experience that moment when someone they love looks into their eyes and no longer knows who they are.

Until then, we walk.

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