Twenty Dartmouth residents participated in the South Coast region’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 17, holding their own local walk around South Dartmouth.

The goal of the walk was to raise awareness of the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and to raise funds to help find a cure and provide support services to those impacted by the disease.

The purple-clad walkers carried different colored pinwheels representing all of those affected by the disease but in different ways: blue for those with Alzheimer’s, purple for those who have lost someone to it, yellow for caregivers, and orange for supporters.

Participants chose between one and two-miles routes, both passing through Anthony Beach for a lovely view of Clark’s Cove.

A table at the start of the walk provided information on the disease, contacts and sources of support, and a variety of promotional items from the Alzheimer’s Association.

One of the walkers, Donna Leary, is a co-facilitator for the Dartmouth Alzheimer’s Support Group, which meets at the Dartmouth Council on Aging every other Tuesday from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

Leary, a local resident, is also the new facilitator for the Fairhaven Alzheimer’s Support Group. She became a volunteer after caring for her mother who lived with Alzheimer’s.

Another Dartmouth walker, Rillis Watkins, has cared for her husband Robert, who has Alzheimer’s for the past 12 years.

Their daughter, Robbie, who also joined the walk, has been a volunteer companion and activity leader for the Alzheimer’s group while their spouses and caregivers attend the Support Group meetings at the Dartmouth Council on Aging.

The walking team was supported financially by more than 35 donors of all ages, even receiving a cash donation from a passing motorist on Williams Street.

Donations can still be made by mailing a check to: The Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. Specify Attn: Southcoast Walk, Team “Dartmouth, MA Walks.”