Organizers of this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s set for Saturday morning hope hundreds of Yampa Valley residents will show up to show support for the estimated 90,800 Coloradans who are living with and fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

The number of patients in Colorado with Alzheimer’s is projected to rise to 92,000 by 2025, and 1,778 people died from Alzheimer’s in 2021 in Colorado, according to the state chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Last week, the Yampa Valley walk had 16 teams registered so far but was about one-third of the way toward this year’s fundraising goal of $38,100. The walk is the largest annual fundraising effort for the Alzheimer’s Association that provides funds toward local support groups, a 24-hour national helpline and research for proactive medication to combat dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“The big thing I wish everyone knew, especially in rural areas, is the Alzheimer’s Association is available all day, every day for people facing Alzheimer’s and other dementia through our free 24/7 Helpline,” said Heidi Wheeler, development manager for the walk in the Yampa Valley and Larimer County.

Families can call the helpline at 800-272-3900 to speak with a dementia expert and receive confidential emotional support, local resources, crisis assistance and information, Wheeler said. The Colorado association also has offices in Grand Junction, Denver and Colorado Springs.

Locally, the association offers a support group for caregivers that meets at 10:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Community Center, 1605 Lincoln Ave. in Steamboat Springs. More than 177,000 Coloradans are serving as unpaid caregivers to loved ones suffering from the progressive disease that robs people of their memory and other important brain functions.

Participants in the walk on Saturday morning can carry a Promise Garden flower in one of four colors to represent their family and community support. Blue represents someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Purple is for people who have lost someone to the disease. Yellow represents someone currently supporting or caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s. Orange is for those who support the cause.

Wheeler, who is four months into her position, said more volunteers are needed to help before and during the event. Interested individuals can volunteer by signing up online at Act.alz.org/steamboat or by contacting Wheeler at 303-953-6922 or hkwheeler@alz.org.

Every registered participant who achieves the fundraising minimum of $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer’s T-shirt via mail.

All funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer’s go toward the care, support and research efforts of the nonprofit Alzheimer’s Association with more information at Alz.org. Other walks are planned in 12 other Colorado communities including in Eagle.

The association notes that Alzheimer’s is the only leading cause of death without a prevention or cure. Women make up two-thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Association statistics show 6.9 million people in the United States age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, or about one in nine people in the U.S.