By Lookout Staff

September 20, 2019 -- The Alzheimer’s Association will hold a walk in Santa Monica on Sunday to raise awareness and funds to battle the mentally crippling disease.

The annual walk -- which has a goal of raising $10,000 this year -- will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Tongva Park across from Santa Monica City Hall.

Registration starts at 9 a.m. and is followed by a ceremony at 10 a.m., event organizers said.

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

This year's walk honors The Judy Fund Team, which has raised more than $8.4 million to support Alzheimer's research, care and advocacy.

Led by local resident Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns, the team is "poised to be one of the biggest teams and highest fundraiser of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Westside," organizers said.

Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association has mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk® and is continuing the effort with Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

"Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health," the Association said.

The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer's is "a progressive disease beginning with mild memory loss possibly leading to loss of the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment," according to the Centers for Disease Control.

In 2014, as many as 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s disease, according to a 2018 study cited by the CDC.