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The 2026 Tulare and Kings Counties Walk to End Alzheimer’s, a fundraising event held at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia, raised $21,551 for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
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The amount is expected to increase as additional donations are made.
The Sept. 26 event, coordinated by the Alzheimer’s Association’s California Central Coast Chapter, included a Promise Garden flower ceremony and a walk around the Valley Strong Ballpark field.
“It was an incredible morning filled with connection, remembrance, hope and a shared commitment to a future without Alzheimer’s, said Kodie Stanley, Visalia Rawhide hosted events manager. “We were honored to welcome walkers, families, caregivers, volunteers, sponsors and supporters to the ballpark – each carrying their own reason for walking and each helping move the mission forward.”
“It was amazing,” said Justina Howell, walk manager. “We had 158 registered participants and 23 teams.”
The top fundraising team this year was Quail Park, which raised $9,670.02. The second biggest fundraising team was Mama Hawk, which raised $3,820.
Howell thanked the community, the hosts Valley Strong and the Visalia Rawhide, and the sponsors including Allied Home Health and Edward Jones. She also noted the help received from the students of Mt. Whitney High School’s Academy of Health Sciences.
A return to Valley Strong Ballpark in 2027?
“We want to go back,” Howell said. “We were actually invited to go in the spring when their season starts up and help host an Alzheimer’s fundraiser night where maybe I can help emcee, put out a booth with some information, and bring more awareness.”
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Stanley said she is hopeful the ballpark will host in 2027, but discussions haven’t started.
“Events like this are a great reminder that Valley Strong Ballpark is more than a place to play baseball,” she said. “It’s a place for our community to come together, support one another and rally around causes that matter.”
The Walk Against Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, making it the largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
More than 7 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer’s disease. About 12 million family members and friends in the U.S. provide care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Donations credited to the 2026 Tulare-Kings Walk to End Alzheimer’s can be made online or by mail through Dec. 31, 2026. Instructions are online.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Tulare-Kings Walk Against Alzheimer’s raises $21,551 so far
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Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect
This story was originally published October 5, 2026 at 2:30 AM.