Over 1,500 people gathered at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to participate in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

Organizers say the walk is in the top 30 most profitable across the country, with a goal to raise $436,000. So far, they have already raised $401,000 in proceeds to go to research and those most impacted.

Following the walk, participants planted flowers at the Promise Garden, an area dedicated to Alzheimer’s sufferers, families and caregivers. Purple flowers signify the loss of a loved one to the disease. Yellow represents being a caregiver. Orange represents supporters and blue represents those currently afflicted. People at the walk hope to one day begin planting white flowers to symbolize survival.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are 6 million Americans with Alzheimer's and 11 million caregivers for those suffering from the illness.