LANSING - It's your brain. It can happen to you, just like it happened to more than 5 million Americans who live everyday with Alzheimer's Disease. But those who do not have the disease can still be affected.

"I lost my Grandfather to Alzheimer's and then my Father also struggles with Dementia himself," said Jill Clouser, Walk to End Alzheimer's Chair.

Every year, thousands unite nationwide in the Walk to End Alzheimer's. The walk will once again take place in Downtown Lansing on Sunday, September 13 to support all those who are or have been affected by this terrible disease.

And while knowing or caring for someone with Alzheimer's can be difficult, Clouser says that the Walk to End Alzheimer's is a chance for everyone to connect.

"It's a day where we hope at the end of the day, besides raising a lot of money and hoping to find a cure for Alzheimer's, is that our folks who are dealing with the disease don't feel alone for the day. They don't feel like they are isolated. They have people around them who are fighting the same battles, and that we as a community care deeply for the battle of their fighting," said Clouser.

As someone whose been personally affected by Alzheimer's, Clouser offered advice for those who may not understand what it's like to know someone with the disease and what they can do to help.

"Reach out to those that you know are struggling as caregivers. Offer to help them, whether it's just going over and having a cup of coffee with them, or taking them to lunch, or maybe staying with their loved ones so they can get out for a little while. Be a listening ear to these folks, because they don't have that, and they do feel very isolated, and their world does very much become all about caregiving. There are so many ways you can help in a very simple way of just being a friend."

At the event, each registered walker will receive a promise garden flower that represents their connection to the disease. For instance, blue represents someone with Alzheimer's or dementia, purple represents someone who has lost a loved one to Alzheimer's, yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for someone with the disease, and orange represents someone who supports the mission of a world without Alzheimer's.

"It's that opportunity for 1,000 people, which is the number that will be there, to look around a space and identify with people that they don't know and have never met, but they know in that moment that they know exactly what that person is going through because they're going through it, too," said Rachel Tanner, Associate Walk Director.

Returning walkers can also look forward to some new changes this year.

"Last year, we did two laps or an optional second lap of the route. This year, we're only doing one and we're incorporating a closing ceremony, which is going to tie everything together," said Tanner. "We also are having food trucks there this year that are going to donate a portion back. It's just going to be a lot of fun. We're really striving this year to make sure that people who come out are going to have a good time."

According to Tanner, their goal this year is to raise $200,000, which will go toward support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.