BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — On Saturday morning, more than a hundred community members and families gathered at Bowling Green Ballpark (home of the Bowling Green Hot Rods) to take part in the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, demonstrating unity in the fight against memory loss and cognitive decline.
The event, coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Kentucky & Southern Indiana (AA KY & SI), was held on October 4 at the downtown stadium.
Participants started with a Promise Garden ceremony, carrying colored flowers symbolizing their personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease — as a way to honor those affected, remember loved ones lost, and support the ongoing effort for breakthrough research.
Road closures were in place from around 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., as the walk looped through downtown Bowling Green before returning to the ballpark.
More than 80,000 Kentuckians currently live with Alzheimer’s, making local awareness and fundraising critical.
Participants gathered at the ballpark around 9:00 a.m. for registration and the ceremony.
-`-At approximately 10:15 a.m., the walk officially began, winding through Center Street, East 10th, State Street, East 8th, and back.
A grassy corner beside the ballpark was transformed into a “Promise Garden” where walkers placed floral tributes — purple for those lost to Alzheimer’s, yellow for those caring, and other colors representing awareness and support.
Families, friends, and local businesses took part — some walking in memory of grandparents, others walking to show solidarity.
As the walk wound through downtown, the community energy was palpable: cheers, local volunteers, and visible signs of support from area residents.
“Every dollar we raise helps research and lifts up caregivers — and our community here in South Central Kentucky needs that.” — spokesman from the Alzheimer’s Association.
For Bowling Green and the surrounding region, this event is more than symbolic. With an aging population and many families caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, awareness and resources matter. The downtown route and use of the ballpark brought visibility to the cause right in the heart of the city — reminding locals that support is close to home.
As the final walkers returned to the ballpark and the floral tributes swayed gently in the morning breeze, Bowling Green proved that when a community comes together, powerful things can happen. The 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s didn’t just fill the streets — it filled hearts, sparked conversations, and reminded everyone: we don’t walk alone.
