Mystic — Volunteers with the Alzheimer's Association Connecticut chapter clad the John J. Kelley statue Friday with a "Walk to End  Alzheimers" T-shirt to kick off the association's End Alzheimer's Season and promote the Eastern CT Walk to End Alzheimer's scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, at Ocean Beach Park in New London. 

The sculpture, erected in 2014, depicts the 1957 Boston Marathon champion running with his golden retriever Brutus. Both were adorned with purple Alzheimer's Association swag, and the plaza around the sculpture was decorated with signs, banners and balloons.

Jim Roy, who headed the effort to place the sculpture as well as a scholarship program in Kelley's name, said various decorations to the sculpture are welcome as long as they are not political or controversial. The sculpture is adorned with a Boston Marathon jersey each year at the time of the marathon.