Loved ones, caregivers and supporters of Wyomingites living with Alzheimer’s disease will gather Saturday for the Park County Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

One of seven Alzheimer’s Association of Wyoming Walks to End Alzheimer’s in 2025, the Walk in Cody will raise funds to provide essential services to families and support research to find a cure. The Walk has a fundraising goal of $20,000. Collectively, the seven Wyoming Walks have a target of $205,000.

There are 10,300 Wyomingites among 7.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, the sixth-leading cause of death and the only leading disease without a prevention or cure. 

“The toll from Alzheimer’s disease is rising relentlessly, and will continue to do so until we find a cure,” said Debra Antista-Bianchi, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Wyoming. “Every dollar we can raise for research to find a cure is an investment in our health and that of future generations.”

The proceeds from the Walks are the primary source of funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of Wyoming, enabling it to continue to provide the information, programs and services for those who receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as well as services for their family and caregivers. All of those services are provided at no charge.

Walks also support research to find a cure. The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. Currently, it is funding 1,200 projects with over $450 million in 56 countries.

The Park County Walk to End Alzheimer’s will kick off at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at Lions Park at Beck Lake in Cody. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and opening ceremonies begin at 10:15 a.m.

To register, volunteer or make a donation, go to act.alz.org/wyoming. For more information, contact Chanda Snook at csnook@alz.org or 307-290-0400.

Edward Jones, Salesforce, Biogen and are national sponsors of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Local sponsors include Groathouse Construction, Inc.; 307 Health; Frontier Neurohealth; Moose Creek Lodge & Suites; Old Dog Upholstery and Restoration; Stillwater Hospice of Northern Wyoming; Big Horn Basin Media; Bubba’s Bar-B-Que Restaurant; Cody Regional Health; and Renewal by Andersen.

Facts about Alzheimer’s:

• Alzheimer’s kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

• Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased 145%, while deaths from heart disease have declined 7%.

• Women make up two-thirds of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s — and two-thirds of the family caregivers.

• In Wyoming alone, more than 16,000 family and friends are serving as unpaid caregivers, providing an estimated 21 million hours of support in 2024 valued at $486 million.