Continuing a tradition 13 years in the making, the Southern Crescent Alzheimer’s Walk will be held on Saturday at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City.

The 3.1 mile walk, with a regional draw including the south Fulton area, will begin at 9:30 a.m., preceded by registration starting at 8 a.m.

There is no cost to register for the walk, but all participants are asked to consider giving a donation, said event chair Sue Shaffer.

The run and walk trail starts at the amphitheater, follows along McIntosh Trail, runs through Peachtree Parkway and subdivisions, before concluding back at the amphitheater.

Events like the Alzheimer walk are crucial, especially in the south Fulton area, according to south Fulton event representative Dyan Matthews.

“The south Fulton area, I would say, in the past few decades has seen an increase in our residents that are suffering from Alzheimer’s,” she said.

Matthews said the money raised is equally important as it goes towards research and vital resources to help those families affected by the disease.

An event like Southern Crescent’s also hit home for Matthews.

“It means a lot to me because I had to be a caregiver for my mother,” she said. “Just a year later, my dad came down with it. I lost them both to the disease.”

Matthews also hopes the event can be one of consolation to families grappling to make sense of the disease.

“A lot of people finally understand that Alzheimer’s has no age,” she said. “It really doesn’t just start with senior citizens. It is a passion of mine to make sure that the citizens of South Fulton know that there is something they can do [to advance the cause].”

The event will also include live music from the Peachtree Jazz Edition, breakfast, and hamburgers and hot dogs at the conclusion of the run and walk. Registration is open through the day of the event.

Information: www.southernmemorywalk.org.