Walk to End Alzheimer's Returns to St. Petersburg's Poynter Park Today

The 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's for Pinellas County steps off today at Poynter Park in downtown St. Petersburg, bringing families, caregivers and volunteers together for a free 5K that funds care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease. Registration and check-in open at 8 a.m. at the park, located at 1000 3rd Street, with a Promise Garden ceremony at 8:45 a.m. honoring those living with the disease, their caregivers and those lost to it. The walk itself starts at 9 a.m.

The event is organized by the Alzheimer's Association and is open to the public at no cost. It goes on rain or shine, and will only be called off for severe weather. Andrea Helme is coordinating local participation for the Pinellas County walk.

The Promise Garden ceremony is the emotional center of the morning. Walkers carry colored pinwheel flowers that represent their personal connection to Alzheimer's: blue for someone living with the disease, purple for someone who has lost a loved one to it, yellow for a current caregiver, and orange to show support for the cause. Organizers plant the flowers together before the walk begins, turning the park into a visual representation of how many people in the room have been touched by the disease.

Why the walk matters here

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia remain one of the most common health burdens facing older adults in Florida, a state with one of the largest senior populations in the country. Pinellas County, with its large retiree community, is no exception. Walks like this one fund two things at once: local caregiver support programs and national research into treatment and prevention.

Money raised at the Pinellas County walk goes to the Alzheimer's Association's care and support services, including its 24/7 helpline, as well as to research efforts aimed at earlier diagnosis and better treatment. Participants can register as individuals or join a team, and donations are accepted at the event and online through the walk's official registration page.

Organizers are still accepting walk-day registrations and donations for anyone who wants to join after the fact. The Alzheimer's Association also runs Walk to End Alzheimer's events throughout the year across the Tampa Bay area, and local teams are already forming for next year's Pinellas County event.

For more Pinellas County news, visit Pinellas County Community Website and follow us on Facebook. Have thoughts on this story or want to connect with others who walked today? Join the conversation in our Community Forum. You can also read more Pinellas County events coverage and community stories on our site.