CHICAGO (WLS) — Thousands of people are coming together in Chicago’s Lincoln Park on Saturday morning for a unified mission.

The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s will step off at 10 a.m. Participants have the choice of walking either 1 mile or 3 miles.

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According to the Alzheimer’s Association, right now, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, which is a leading cause of death in the United States. There are also more than 260,000 people living with the disease in Illinois.

During this moving walk, participants honor those affected by Alzheimer’s with the Promise Garden ceremony.

Walkers carry flowers of different colors, with each representing their personal connection to Alzheimer’s. Some participants have lost loved ones to Alzheimer’s, and other flowers represent someone living with the disease.

ABC7 spoke with the executive director of the Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association about what this longstanding event means to the community.

ABC7 Anchor Tanja Babich is the emcee for Saturday’s event.

More than $1 million has already been raised for the Alzheimer’s Association this year. The goal is $1.4 million, so they are getting close.