WORCESTER, Mass. — It’s been five years since Deb Mazza-Scanlon lost her father to Alzheimer’s disease. Every day since, he’s been the driving force behind her fight for a cure.

“It’s not an old person disease like everyone thinks it is,” Mazza-Scanlon said. “I mean, people in their late 40s and 50s are being diagnosed.”

We first shared Deb’s story three years ago and since, new treatments and medications have been approved to help the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s.

“You have to get diagnosed early, so if you meet all the markers you’re able to get this medication to help slow down the progression of this disease,” she said. “So more time with loved ones and family is what that medication really means.”

Deb’s dad Bob started showing symptoms in 2015. She said if some of the newer medications were around back then, he may still be here. 

“When he was finally diagnosed it was pretty much too late because we didn’t know and that’s the thing we are fighting for,” Mazza-Scanlon said. “In his memory but for other people who experience what our family experienced.”

The disease impacts memory, thinking and behavior. Mazza-Scanlon said her dad’s diagnosis affected her whole family and to help others dealing with the similar experience, it’s important to talk about it.

“Frankly, so many people are dealing with it that you don’t even know and when you start talking about it you really have this community of people of support and that in itself is very, very comforting to everyone,” she said. 

She’s entering her seventh year taking part in the Worcester County walk to end Alzheimer’s this weekend. Organizers are aiming to raise $640,000 for care, support and research. Mazza-Scanlon said she’ll march as long as she has to until no one has to lose a loved one to Alzheimer’s. 

“I am really in this for the long haul. I do it for my family, I do it for myself, my children but I am doing it for my community too and all the people I have met a long the way,” she said. 

Mazza-Scanlon will join roughly 1,200 walkers on Sunday. Of the more than 600 walks held across the country, Worcester County ranks 31st .

Click here to sign up.