Alzheimer’s Association honors patients, caregivers with The Longest Day

CHICAGO — The Alzheimer’s Foundation on Monday once again used the summer solstice (June 20 this year) to hold its annual The Longest Day team event to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. 

 

Teams worldwide are participating in their favorite activities — from hiking to baking and playing bridge — to fundraise and honor those with the disease, as the event is meant to symbolize the challenges of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. And The Longest Day’s official sponsor, Good Neighbor Pharmacy, AmerisourceBergen’s network of independent pharmacies, will have a point-of-sale fundraising program throughout the month of June. 

 

“For those facing Alzheimer's, every day is the longest day,” said Donna McCullough, chief development officer, Alzheimer's Association. “The Longest Day honors the strength, heart and endurance of people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. By coming together on this day, we show these families that they are not alone and inspire hope for our vision: a world without Alzheimer's.”

 

For the event, the foundation is asking people to get involved by joining a team on their website, wearing purple on June 20, and sharing photos of friends and family wearing purple on social media. Among the activities taking place for The Longest Day are a motorcycle ride from Mexico to Canada and hiking 48 mountain tops. This will be the fourth year that the American Contract Bridge League will be participating, with 168 teams in all 50 states holding tournaments, teaching bridge and hosting games. In the past three years, The Longest Day has raised $1.7 million. 

 

About 47 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer’s disease, including more than 5 million Americans, who are supported by more than 15 million caregivers nationwide.