MOSES LAKE - Basin residents will be able to join national efforts to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's research as the Walk to End Alzheimer's takes place in Moses Lake for the first time next month.

The Walk to End Alzheimer's, sponsored by The Alzheimer's Association, is held in more than 600 communities across the country each year. But before this year, the closest walk for area residents was either the Tri-Cities or Spokane walk, said Joan Acres, the association's community outreach coordinator for Moses Lake.

Acres said the association decided to bring the walk to Moses Lake because more and more people were showing interest in it.

"We started doing (Alzheimer's education) programs out here and I would talk about going to the walk in Tri-Cities and people would ask why we didn't have a walk in Moses Lake," she said. "We realized there was a lot of interest and a lot of people wanted to do something without having to drive to Tri-Cities or Spokane."

The Moses Lake walk takes place Sept. 20. Acres said they are inviting residents to learn more about the event during their Purple Kickoff Party from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the Porterhouse Steakhouse.

"We want to get people enthused about the very first walk in our area," she said. "It's going to be a really fun time."

The kickoff party is free, said Acres. There will be information on the Alzheimer's Association and registration forms for the walk at the event.

"There will be appetizers and giveaways every 10 minutes," said Acres. "There is also a prize for the best dressed person."

Attendees are encouraged to wear purple or Hawaiian attire, she said.

Acres said anyone who is planning on doing the walk in September, or who is considering it, should come to the kickoff party.

"We've been getting a lot of support so far, but we want this first walk to be huge," she said.

For more information on the Moses Lake walk, visit act.alz.org/ColumbiaBasin.