Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s Returns to Olean
Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s Returns to Olean
The annual Olean event brings families, friends, businesses and community organizations together to raise awareness and support Alzheimer’s research, care and resources throughout Western New York.
Every step taken at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s represents something different. For some, it’s in honor of a parent or grandparent. For others, it’s for a spouse, friend or neighbor living with dementia. And for many, it’s a way to support the caregivers who walk alongside their loved ones through a disease that affects millions of families.
This fall, the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter will once again bring its Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s to Olean, inviting individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations to come together to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is the world’s largest event dedicated to raising awareness and funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.
The need continues to grow. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Nearly 13 million Americans provide unpaid care for a family member or friend with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, providing more than 19 billion hours of care in 2025 alone. Those numbers illustrate why events such as the Southern Tier Walk reach far beyond a single morning.
Funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer’s help support the Alzheimer’s Association’s work in research as well as programs and services for individuals and families affected by the disease. The organization’s mission includes accelerating global research, promoting risk reduction and early detection, and improving care and support for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Here in Western New York, that support is available close to home. The Western New York Chapter serves Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties, offering education programs, support groups, care consultations and other resources for individuals living with dementia and their care partners. The Association also operates a free, confidential 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. Trained staff can provide information about Alzheimer’s and dementia, connect families with local resources, help caregivers navigate challenges, and offer emotional and crisis support.
But the annual Walk is also about something less easily measured: reminding families that they are not facing the disease alone. Participants can register individually, start a team, or join an existing team. Friends, families, coworkers, clubs, schools, and local businesses can all participate and raise funds together. There is no registration fee, although participants are encouraged to fundraise in support of the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission.
The Walk also provides an opportunity for those who may not have a direct connection to Alzheimer’s to learn more about the disease and the impact it has on families throughout the region. And that impact is significant. Alzheimer’s is not simply a normal part of aging or occasional forgetfulness. It is a progressive brain disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior and eventually interferes with a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities.
Research continues to bring new understanding and new treatment options, but there is still much work to be done. Supporting research remains a major part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission, alongside helping the millions of people who are living with the disease today.
For Southern Tier residents looking for a way to make a difference, the Olean Walk offers a simple place to start: gather a few friends, form a team, raise what you can, and show up. Because behind the statistics are real people - our parents, grandparents, spouses, friends, and neighbors - and every step taken in Olean helps keep attention focused on the search for better treatments, stronger support and, ultimately, a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
To register, join a team, donate, or learn more about the Southern Tier Walk to End Alzheimer’s, visit act.alz.org. Additional information about the Alzheimer’s Association Western New York Chapter, its programs, and resources is available through the chapter website at alz.org/wny or by calling the 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900.