Alzheimer's disease has left its mark on Maria Lebre and her family and friends.

  • More than 400 turned out in Flagler Beach for Alzheimer's walk
  • Participants wore purple and carried flowers to raise awareness
  • More than $50,000 was raised

"We had a beautiful life of 63 years, a beautiful life, until this disease came down and took him away," Lebre said Saturday. Her husband, Eddie, died less than a month ago at age 87.

She was one of more than 400 who hit Flagler Beach wearing purple and holding flowers to raise awareness about the disease.

"He was very, very bad at the end. It was very sad to see him die," Lebre said. "I'm walking so Alzheimer's can get a cure, because it's so necessary to get that cure," Lebre said.

Participants raised more than $50,000 in the small community, and more money was donated on site during the event Saturday.

Mary Overbey, a friend who helped Lebre care for her husband, was a part of Team Eddie.

"It's the 24/7 caregivers who need the support, and the only way they're going to get the support is for us to make it known to everybody," Overbey said.

"Believe me, the families are going through the same horrible moments that these people are. It's hard to understand unless you are with them 24 hours a day," Lebre said.

While many cheered as they crossed the finish line, Lebre said that's just one hurdle in the battle. Lebre's biggest goal is to make sure her husband's fight with Alzheimer’s was not in vain.

"I want to work as much as I can to get a cure, to get something that the doctors will discover, to do something for these people. They need it.

"For my husband, too, in his memory. That's all I can do right now," Lebre said.

The Alzheimer's association is accepting donations through the end of December as the walks continue.