Once people reach a certain age they are often forgotten.

They often become forgetful themselves with the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Hundreds of people remembered everyone with the disease Saturday at Wichita State by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with a one-mile walk through the WSU main campus and celebration at Cessna Stadium.

Marsha Hills, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Kansas, said, “Alzheimer’s isn’t going away. It’s spreading across the country at an alarming rate.”

Estimates are that 5.4 million Americans suffer from the disease.

Hills said her grandmother had a hardening of the arteries, which she later discovered was a precursor to Alzheimer’s.

Richard Zabel knows what having the disease is like. He got it in his 50s and he’s now in his 60s.

“Hope, yeah, that’s all we have,” he said. “It’s hard not to get sad.”

Hills said the money raised from the event goes to support families, programs and research. She said many clinical trials are in progress, but none are fast enough.

“I just want it now,” she said about having a cure.

Hills estimated the event raised about $135,000.

Once people reach a certain age they are often forgotten.They often become forgetful themselves with the onset of Alzheimer’s.Hundreds of people remembered everyone with the disease Saturday at Wichita State by participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s with a one-mile walk through the WSU main campus and celebration at Cessna Stadium.Marsha Hills, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Central and Western Kansas, said, “Alzheimer’s isn’t going away. It’s spreading across the country at an alarming rate.”Estimates are that 5.4 million Americans suffer from the disease.Hills said her grandmother had a hardening of the arteries, which she later discovered was a precursor to Alzheimer’s.Richard Zabel knows what having the disease is like. He got it in his 50s and he’s now in his 60s.“Hope, yeah, that’s all we have,” he said. “It’s hard not to get sad.”Hills said the money raised from the event goes to support families, programs and research. She said many clinical trials are in progress, but none are fast enough.“I just want it now,” she said about having a cure.Hills estimated the event raised about $135,000.