Foxborough, Mass. — Community members gathered around a shared cause this weekend as the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Neponset Valley took place at Patriot Place on Saturday, October 24, bringing attention to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and the families affected by it.
Organized by the Alzheimer’s Association, the annual walk encourages individuals, families, businesses and community organizations to unite in support of Alzheimer’s care, research and awareness.
Among the local supporters is the Foxboro Rotary Club, which participates through its Jogging for Jake team. The team honors the memory of longtime Rotary member and friend Jake Vinton, who died from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. According to the club, Vinton died 10 years ago, and members continue to honor his legacy by raising funds and awareness through the annual walk.
For the Foxboro Rotary Club, participating is more than a charitable activity. It is an opportunity to remember a friend, support those living with the disease and recognize the challenges faced by caregivers and families.
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of Americans, touching not only those diagnosed but also the loved ones who provide care and support. Community events such as the Walk to End Alzheimer’s help bring these experiences into the public eye while supporting the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission.
A big part of the event was building up the promise garden with flowers. Each flower had a different meaning to show support. Blue represented someone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia,
purple was for those who have lost someone to the disease, yellow represented someone who is currently supporting or caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s and orange was for those who support the cause and the Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Once everyone got a flower, they were planted in the garden before the walk. During the pre-walk announcements, each group of people with the flowers raised them to come together. Each color had a representative that belonged to those groups. Adam Howitt a member of the blue flower group. He went on the stage and told his story to the hundreds of supporters that were there. Howitt stood on stage and explained his life with early onset Alzheimer’s disease alongside his wife and four kids. His story was very emotionally moving to all the members of the event.
The Neponset Valley walk took place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Patriot Place in Foxborough and since then they have raised over $410,000, inching closer to their goal of $499,000. There have been over 1,300 participants and 200+ teams that have been a part of the walk.
The funds raised go to all funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer’s further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
