Walkers in Casper will join others across the state in an effort to end Alzheimer's disease. The events raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association of Wyoming for programs that provide education, care and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease as well as their caregivers.

The Casper Walk to End Alzheimer's has already raised more than $8,000, according to

its website. The money raised will help the Wyoming Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association continue to provide – at no charge – "the essential programs and services for persons who receive a dementia diagnosis, as well as to their caregivers and families".

The 2017 Casper Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held at the Tate Pumphouse Trail Center. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. The program will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the one mile walk will kick off at 9:15 a.m.

Here are some facts about Alzheimer's in Wyoming, and nationally:

  • 9.400 Wyomingites are living with Alzheimer’s today.
  • Wyoming Alzheimer’s rates are projected to jump 49 percent to 14,000 by 2025
  • An estimated 28,000 volunteer Wyoming caregivers provided 32 million hours of unpaid care in 2016.
  • Alzheimer’s is the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.
  • More than 5.5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, with more than 14 million expected to have the disease in 2050.
  • Nearly $1 of every $5 in Medicare funds is spent on people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.  By 2050, that is projected to be $1 of every $3.

If you'd like to start or join a team today, you can visit the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org/walk. To learn more about the disease and resources which are available, you can call the toll-free Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.

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