Imagine watching a family member slowly lose precious memories they once held dear — losing the memory of their wedding day, the birth of their first child, seeing their son graduate.

This loss is what the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado and this Saturday's 20th annual Memory Walk is trying to fight.

The Memory Walk is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds to help support Alzheimer's care, research and support. Since the Memory Walk was started in 1989, it has raised more than $260 million nationwide.

“This year, we are hoping to raise $73,000 total between the walkers and the sponsors,” said Teresa Black, regional director for the Alzheimer's Association on the Western Slope.

Instead of charging participants money for taking part in the walk, each walker is asked to make a contribution to the cause by receiving money from sponsors such as their family and friends. People who contribute more than $100 will receive a one-of-a-kind T-shirt with a specially designed logo and an environmentally-friendly tote.

“The local Alzheimer's Association office will use all the money from the walk for education about the disease for caregivers and families dealing with the disease,” Black said.

Registration for all participants will start at 9 a.m. leading to the walk starting at 10 a.m. Walkers may take as long as they want to walk the whole distance but Black estimates most of the people will be done between 11 a.m. and noon.

The walk is 3 miles long and will begin at Lincoln Park then travel through parts of downtown Grand Junction. If participants wants a shorter route, there will be a .3 mile walk set up inside the park. While walking, people may take place in a scavenger hunt for prizes. People of all ages are asked to attend.

There will be Bump-n-Jumps for kids, a family tent which will be filled with refreshments and information, and KOOL 107.9 will be providing music before and after the walk.