“Our memories will not fade,” read the sign outside this year’s Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk in Brookside Park on Saturday.

The walk attracted more than 90 people, estimated Gale Brubaker, special projects and communications coordinator for the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“It’s a great event and is not just a fundraiser, but an awareness raiser,” Brubaker said. “There are 2,000 people in Story County who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.”

Participants had a choice of walking a small loop around Brookside Park, or walking once or twice around a 5K loop that stretched up to the Ames High School and back to the park.

The Avenue of Memories was a new feature of the event this year.

Eleven by 11 inch squares of fabric, purchased for $25 each, were decorated to honor those who currently have the disease or in memory of those lost.

“It really helps put a face on the disease,” Brubaker said. “It is our answer to the AIDS quilt.”

This year’s goal was to raise $10,000.

The walk generated $9,800, but Brubaker said more money is usually received after the walk.

“I feel pretty confident that we shall make our goal for the Ames Memory Walk,” Brubaker said.

All of the money raised at the Memory Walk stays within the counties of the Greater Iowa Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and funds programs and services for patients.

Sigma Kappa sorority was also a big part of this year’s walk.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the national philanthropy of Sigma Kappa, and this year the sorority had almost 45 women participating, said Morgan Hotka, Sigma Kappa’s philanthropy chairwoman.

Hotka was on the planning committee this year and said it was good to be able to give input.

Committee member Laura Moreland, 3822 Eisenhower Ave., lost her father last year to Alzheimer’s.

She has been a part of the Memory Walk for the past five years and has been on the planning committee for the past two years.

“I do this for my dad,” Moreland said.

“I’ve learned so much more about this disease and how important it is for families and friends to support those with this disease. Even though it seems [those living with Alzheimer’s] don’t know who you are, I believe they do.”

Brubaker stressed the importance of early detection of the disease.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but new medication leaves the window of coherence open and gives extra time to spend with loved ones, she said.

“The sooner you know, the sooner you can start planning,” Brubaker said.