Almost 200 motorcyclists took to the roads across North County, Saturday, helping raise more than $100,000 for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in San Diego County. The 10th annual Rides4ALZ rolled out of Escondido this weekend to benefit Alzheimer’s San Di ego, a local nonprofit that keeps every donated dollar in the county. The organization provides dementia education, support groups, memory health screenings, social activities and other resources for caregivers. “There are about 100,000 people in San Diego County that we know are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia and we suspect the number is much larger because we know getting the diagnosis is very difficult,” said Eugenia Welch, president and CEO of Alzheimer’s San Diego. For Christopher Yagi, chairman of Rides4ALZ, the event is personal. He said his grandmother inspired his involvement with the annual ride, which combines his love of motorcycles with supporting families affected by memory loss illnesses. Christopher Yagi, Chairman of Rides4ALZ raised money in honor of his late grandmother, Escondido, Calif., June 27, 2026. “You’ve got the wind in your face, let your hair down if you have hair. I don’t have hair. It’s a thrill even greater when you’re doing it for a great cause,” Yagi said. Organizers said the money raised supports services for people living with dementia and resources for an estimated 300,000 caregivers across San Diego County. Among the participants were Lee Young and his wife, Stella Delgadillo, who rode together in honor of Delgadillo’s 94-year-old mother, Valentina, who has dementia and lives in Paradise Hills. “The wind, the freedom when you’re riding the motorcycle you don’t think about anything else,” Young said. “I was worried (about riding on the bike) but once I got on it and hit the freeway, I loved it,” Delgadillo said. Lee Young (driver) and his wife, Stella Delgadillo, prepare to leave the California Center for the Arts parking lot, Saturday, to ride across North County, Escondido, Calif., June 27, 2026. The 94-mile route formed a loop through North County, taking riders through communities including Valley Center, near Palomar Mountain and Ramona while raising awareness and money. Organizers said donations are still being accepted through their website. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less