Pat Bowlen's Daughter Leads Walk To End Alzheimer's In Denver

DENVER (CBS4)- More than 10,000 people filled Denver's City Park on Saturday in a fight to end Alzheimer's. This year's Walk to End Alzheimer's featured Pat Bowlen's daughter, Beth Bowlen-Wallace, as master of ceremonies.

"I was so honored," Bowlen-Wallace said.

Her father, Pat, has been battling the disease for several years and stepped down as owner of the Broncos in 2014.

"My dad is going through the disease like any other person with Alzheimer's," Bowlen-Wallace said when asked how her father was doing.

Pat's wife, Annabel Bowlen, cut the opening ribbon to start the race.

This year's numbers made Denver's walk one of the largest in the entire country.

Linda Mitchell, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, said that success is thanks, in part, to the Bowlen family.

"We are very grateful to the Bowlen family and the Denver Broncos," said Mitchell.

Right now, 65,000 in Colorado are fighting the disease. Mitchell believes that as baby boomers age, that number is only going to go up.

"This is the only disease in the top 10 causes of death in our country that can't be prevented, cured or slowed," Mitchell said.

Funds raised go to research and support of Alzheimer's. Bowlen-Wallace said both things are needed to end a disease that affects so many.

"That's where it really gets me emotionally, where I can look into the crowd and see all the people affected by Alzheimer's," said Bowlen-Wallace.

Mark Taylor is a weekend morning anchor and reporter with CBS4 news covering a wide variety of stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkTaylor_TV.