Pat Bowlen's Family On Hand For Historic Walk To End Alzheimer's
DENVER (CBS4) - The 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer's at Denver's City Park celebrated its biggest year in history on Saturday.
The Bowlen family was there to honor one of their own -- Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. After his recent diagnosis with Alzheimer's the family is bringing new attention to the tragic disease.
At the 25th annual Walk to End Alziemer's purple flowers symbolized a loved one lost, and blue flowers were for somebody currently fighting the disease. And joining those colors this year was a lot of Bronco orange.
In purple t-shirts that said "This One's For Pat," Bowlen family and friends walked the 5K alongside others affected by the disease.
"My family and I are so privileged to be walking alongside other families that have been afflicted and affected by this disease of Alziemer's," Pat Bowlen's daughter Beth Bowlen-Wallace said.
"We are very grateful to Mrs. Annabel Bowlen and the entire Bowlen family," Linda Mitchell with the Alzheimer's Association Of Colorado said.
With more than 8,000 in attendance, Mitchell said this year's event was bigger than ever, and they're nearly at their goal of more than $1 million this year. Mitchell said that in large part it's because of the Bowlen family's support. They went public with Pat Bowlen's diagnosis earlier this year.
"Really inspiring many more members of the community to get involved," Mitchell said.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2014 Walk to End Alzheimer's
Funds raised go towards free services offered to patients and their families.
"All-in-all we need better care for persons with Alzheimer's all over," a walk participant said.
While the fight against the disease isn't over, the Bowlen family says they're honored to participate and say that Team Super Bowlen is here to stay.
"We are very honored and we are going to be back year after year," Bowlen-Wallace said.
In Colorado more than 60,000 people are living with Alzheimer's.
