Hundreds of people are expected to be out walking this weekend in support of the Alzheimer Society in Petrolia and Sarnia.
The IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's in Petrolia will be a glow walk held on Friday, May 23 at Black Gold Brewery.
Check in for the five kilometre walk is at 6:30 p.m. to be followed up by a barbeque and live music.
The Sarnia walk will be on Sunday, May 25.
It will start at the Suncor Agora at Centennial Park and continue along the waterfront to Rainbow Park, where a pancake and sausage breakfast will be held.
Registration will be at 8:30 a.m.
Manager of Fund Development and Communications Marie Marcy-Smids said that in Sarnia there are normally 500 participants and 250 in Petrolia.
"It has grown exponentially and before we had a fund development team they got maybe $3,000 to $4,000. Last year, we had $108,000 and that is our primary big fundraiser for the year," she said.
The goal for this year between the two walks is to raise $120,000.
This year, the Alzheimer Society experienced a deficit but was helped by the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign.
The money raised will go towards its social recreation programs and services.
Marcy-Smids said they also try to give $10,000 a year to research.
"Ultimately we want to put ourselves out of business. We don't want to have to have an Alzheimer Society, it would be better if we could cure the disease," she said.
Marcy-Smids said the demand for services is growing locally.
"There are 3,500 people over the age of 65. We deal with people who haven't been diagnosed and we deal with all kinds of brain injuries," she said.
According to Marcy-Smids, with each person there are two care-partners, which brings the total number to 9,000 people.
Those wishing to participate in either walk can register online or at the event.