VIRGINIA BEACH -- Waves of purple swept across the Oceanfront Sunday morning, as hundreds of people walked with and for a purpose.
The Walk to End Alzheimer's helps to raise awareness of the disease and to find a cure for it.
Paul Terkeltaub is 53 years old and was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, reminding people that the disease does not affect only the elderly.
Caregiver Camille Roper explained the importance of people who care for Alzheimer's patients to accept support from others.
"Always take help, 'cause you need help, 'cause it's hard sometimes," said Roper. "You have to be strong for them, but you have to be strong for yourself."
Dave Stephens with the Southeastern Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association stressed the need for funding.
"Cancer Society gets $6 billion from the federal government. Heart disease gets $4 billion. AIDS gets $3 billion, and Alzheimer's gets $450 million," Stephens said.
13News Now's Sandra Parker, who lost her father to Alzheimer's, emceed the event.
"He went down, and it was progressive decline with his health and his memory," shared Parker. "It's sad, and I don't want anyone else to have to go through that. I wish my son could have met his grandfather."
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