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(WSIL) -- This year's Walk to End Alzheimer's is expected to be bigger and better than ever with Carbondale and Marion consolidating to one new location.

Now, a combined event will take place on October 9th between the two towns at John A. Logan College. There will be a mile path and a trail that's a little longer for walkers to choose from and go at their own pace.

Olivia Majerchin, who is the Development Manager for the Alzheimer's Association and helping to plan the walk, says organizers are looking forward to meeting participants face-to-face and showing that they care. 

"This year we're excited to be back in person so we can come together as one community to remember those that we've lost," she explains. "To support each other, especially the ones going through the battle right now. Just come together to have support for one another really."

Each year participants carry different colored flowers to represent their connection to the disease:

• Purple - Lost a loved one to Alzheimer's disease
• Yellow - Caregiver to someone battling Alzheimer's
• Blue - Those currently diagnosed
• Orange - Person who supports a world without the disease

One person who already has her sneakers ready and is signed up for the walk to Mikilyn Schutt. She's walking in memory of her pappaw.

"When he was first diagnosed, there wasn't a lot of information out there for families to know," she recalls. "What they could do, what they couldn't do, suggestions to make life a little easier, more special while they still had him."

Schutt is known for being a community advocate and spreading awareness about the disease. She currently the Director of Active Day, an adult day center in Marion where many clients have Alzheimer's or Dementia.

"I just want to give back to the community and let them know there are options," she says. "There is help for them and they are not alone."

That includes monthly in-person support groups at for caregivers, which are held the third Friday of each month.

Schutt adds the love she has for her clients and their families is also a reason that she participants as a caregiver in the Walk to End Alzheimer's adding a yellow flower to her blue bouquet.

All funds raised go to programs and support groups in southern Illinois as well as research to help find a cure as more than six million Americans are currently battling the disease.

"We've had some recent developments in treatments, but right not there's still no cure," Majerchin says. "We're funding research from start to finish and hopefully someday soon we'll have a cure for Alzheimer's."

If you're interested in signing up, you can find more . For those who feel more comfortable a "walk from anywhere" option is available through the organization's app.