They're walking to raise money, awareness and advocacy. About 5.1 million people have the disease and the impact extends to millions more.

“That's my grandma and my mom; that's my grandma last Christmas opening her presents,” said Kristen Shanahan.

Pictures of these recent memories are fresh in Shanahan's mind. But not for her grandma, who doesn't even remember her loved ones’ names.

“It's interesting because she knows, not necessarily how she's related to people, but she knows how closely,” she said.

Her Grandma Ada has suffered with Alzheimer's for five years.

“It’s progressed very quickly over the past year,” said Shanahan. “The hardest thing has been the sadness that it’s caused my mom.”

So every year Shanahan and her mom participate in the Memory Walk. They walk in honor of her grandma and help raise money to help researchers look for a cure.

“It's very important to me to do it to support my family and everybody,” she said.

The debilitating disease runs rampant on her grandma's side. All of her grandma's siblings either died from the disease or are still suffering.

Statistics show it's becoming more common.

“One person in eight at age 65 is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and the number jumps dramatically. Half the people at age 85 or older are diagnosed with this illness,” said Rob Hulstra, community outreach coordinator of the Southwest Missouri chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“I did not realize how widespread Alzheimer's was until I started participating in the Memory Walk,” said Shanahan.

She believes the disease doesn't get as much awareness as it deserves because it mostly affects older people. But, if you've walked in her shoes, then you know this disease doesn't hurt only the ones suffering but also the ones who love them.

“Once your family has it you realize how important it is,” said Shanahan.

Registration is at 9 a.m. The walk is at 10 at Phelps Grove Park. There's a one-mile and three-mile walk. It's free but the Alzheimer’s Association takes donations. Last year the chapter raised around $100,000 and, given the economic situation, would be happy to make that same amount this year.