MARSHALL — Dementia is a condition that has a big impact on southwest Minnesota individuals and families. This week, area organizations are offering a chance to support southwest Minnesota residents living with dementia.

“Dementia awareness is our main goal,” said Jane Nelson Como, of A.C.E. (Advocate Connect Educate) of Lyon County. In addition, organizers of the annual Walk for Memories in Marshall

The annual Walk for Memories event will be held Thursday evening at a new location: the Red Baron Arena and Expo. The event will include booths with a variety of educational and support resources for dementia, as well as an honor walk, and food and fun activities for visitors of all ages.

“It’s going to be a fun day,” Como said.

Como said there will be a variety of both resources and fun activities at this year’s Walk for Memories. The first 200 attendees Thursday will receive swag bags, she said. Along with the vendor booths, there will also be dementia awareness shirts for sale, and walking tacos being sold by the Marshall noon Rotary.

Como said there will be something for people of all ages at the Walk for Memories. There will be a petting zoo, live music and a memory garden.

“It’s a peaceful area,” Como said of the memory garden. Organizers hope the garden will be a space where people can reflect, and where they can feel peace and hope for the journey they are on with dementia, she said.

The new location for Walk for Memories should be a good fit for the walk’s space needs, and offers protection from the rainy or windy weather that the walk has had in previous years, Como said. She said the event is also being made possible through some area partnerships. A.C.E. of Lyon County, A.C.E. of Lincoln County and the Marshall Area Dementia Awareness Network (MADAN) are working together to organize the event. Como also said the move into the Red Baron Arena is something that was made possible with support from Lockwood Motors.

The doors for Walk for Memories will will be open from 4-6:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Red Baron Arena and Expo. An honor walk will be held at 5:30 p.m. and a door prize drawing at 6 p.m.

Free-will donations are welcome, Como said.