On June 21, people across the globe, including teams in the Chattanooga area, will take a stand in an event called, The Longest Day®, to show those facing Alzheimer’s disease that they are not alone. Alzheimer’s disease is a growing epidemic and the nation’s sixth leading cause of death. More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including 120,000 in Tennessee, and this number is estimated to grow to as many as 16 million by year 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association® 2013 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts & Figures report.
The Longest Day is a sunrise-to-sunset team event to raise funds to fuel the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.
This event is about patience, strength and endurance – it’s a challenge that reflects the experiences that the more nearly 15 million caregivers face every day. On The Longest Day, thousands of participants will complete approximately 16 hours of consecutive activities such as running, marathon games of bridge at local American Contract Bridge League locations, and hiking the Grand Canyon, to advance the cause.
In Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Bridge Club will be playing Bridge for 16 hours, holding multiple games and tables and, in Lookout Mountain, the 16 Miles Team will be hiking Lookout Mountain for 16 hours.