This year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s — set locally for Saturday — will take place on sidewalks, tracks and trails across the country.

“Alzheimer’s hasn’t stopped just because we have a virus,” said Tammy Tomassucci, coordinator of the Family Ties adult day center with the Dickinson Iron Community Service Agency in Iron Mountain.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research of the disease.

“The world may look a little different right now, but one thing hasn’t change — our commitment to end Alzheimer’s,” Tomassucci said.

WALK TO END ALZHEIMER’S team participants show off “Promise Flowers.” Kneeling in front are ManorCare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Director of Admissions Heidi Teafoe and Janice Oberlin; standing from left are Janice Beauchamp, Cheryl Bray, Family Ties coordinator Tammy Tomassucci, Elizabeth Koski, Katrina Romagnoli and Marilyn Hernandez. (Terri Castelaz/Daily News photo)

Because health and safety are the top priorities in this time of COVID-19, the event this year won’t be a large, in-person gathering. Instead, area residents are encouraged to walk as individuals, with family members or in small teams.

“We are still walking and fundraising for the same thing — a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia,” said Tomassucci, whose mother has Alzheimer’s. “This year, more than ever, we need to come together to support all those affected.”

Opening ceremonies and promise garden ceremonies will be done virtually at 10 a.m. On walk day, people are encouraged to wear purple and walk with one of the four “promise flowers.” Each color represents participants’ connection to Alzheimer’s disease: Purple symbolizes a loved one

who lost their battle to the disease, yellow denotes a caregiver for someone with dementia, blue indicates someone living with it and orange represents support for the cause.

Flowers are free to pick up at Family Ties, 800 Crystal Lake Blvd. in Iron Mountain, or ManorCare Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at 1225 Woodward Ave. in Kingsford.

To enhance the participants’ experience on walk day, new features have been added to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s mobile app to create an opportunity for the local community to connect. Participants can use the app and new “Walk Mainstage” to track their steps and distance, follow a virtual walk path, manage their Facebook fundraisers and access information and resources from the association and walk sponsors to help individuals and families affected by the disease. A new audio track is available to encourage participants along the way and congratulate them after completing the walk.

“We encourage everyone to take photos during their walk to share on the Alzheimer’s website,” Tomassucci said.

Overall, the change has drawn a positive response from people who recognize the decision was difficult but necessary, she said.

To register, donate or receive the latest updates on the Iron Mountain area’s Walk to End Alzheimers, go to alz.org/walk and enter 49801 in “Find Your Walk.”

Donations also can be dropped off at Family Ties or ManorCare, Tomassucci said.

More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease — the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 16 million family members and friends provide care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Michigan alone has more than 190,000 residents with the disease and 518,000 caregivers.

With the dollars raised, the Alzheimer’s Association can continue to provide care and support to families during these difficult times while also advancing critical research toward methods of treatment and prevention.