JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — For Abbey Havre, the battle against Alzheimer’s is deeply personal. She participates in the walk to honor her grandmother, who is living with the disease. Similarly, for Reese Dickerson, the cause hits close to home as he walks in memory of his mother and grandmother.

Regardless of their personal connections, all participants are united by a common goal: to contribute to the fight against Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Residents across Northeast Florida are invited to join Havre and Dickerson at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Jacksonville event on Sunday, November 9, taking place at the University of North Florida’s J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater. Registration kicks off at 1 p.m., with an opening ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the walk.

First Coast News Anchor Anthony Austin will serve as the master of ceremonies for the event, guiding participants through the day’s meaningful activities.

“My grandmother is quite healthy physically, despite her age, which makes the mental deterioration even harder to watch,” Havre said. “Alzheimer’s runs in my family. I’d like to help find a cure before this disease hits my sister, her children, and myself. It’s too late for my great gram and grandmother. I hope it won’t be too late for us.”

In Florida, more than 580,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, supported by over 870,000 unpaid caregivers, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. In Duval County, an estimated 17,300 residents, or 12.1% of those over 65, are living with Alzheimer’s.

Nationwide, more than 7 million Americans are currently living with the disease, and an estimated 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

On Walk Day, participants will take part in the Promise Garden ceremony, a touching tribute that symbolizes solidarity and hope in the fight against Alzheimer’s. Walkers carry flowers of different colors, each representing a personal connection to the disease.

“I walk for my mom and now for my grandma,” Dickerson said. “I walk because I can. I walk for those who can’t. I’ll walk until we find a cure, because Alzheimer’s will not win.”

To register or get the latest updates on the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s Jacksonville, visit alz.org/JacksonvilleWalk.