The annual October walk raises funds for Alzheimer’s disease.

LEWISTON — The Lewiston-Auburn Memory Walk Committee has been planning this year’s event since February. They plan area fund-raisers as well as the major event to be held Saturday, Oct. 4, at Pettingill School.

Several committee members work for businesses that sponsor the walk and support in-house fund-raising projects such as raffles, jeans days and car washes. A recent calendar 50-50 raffle netted more than $2,000 for Memory Walk.

The walk is held on the first Saturday in October each year to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease. Memory Walk 2002 raised almost $300,000 in Maine for education and support programs to benefit those suffering from the disease as well as family members, friends and others caring for them.

There are approximately 30,000 Mainers afflicted. Ten percent of those 65 years and 50 percent of people over 85 have Alzheimer’s disease; however the disease is often diagnosed in people in their 40s and 50s.

Anyone wanting more information about the walk should contact Joline Richard at 783-1791.