OXFORD — More than 100 bridge players raised $5,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association at a tournament at the Oxford Community Hall on Friday.

“It was a grand slam!” organizer Pat Quinn of the Oxford Hills Bridge Club said in a statement Sunday. The tournament lasted 16 hours and included 116 players from the Lewiston/Auburn and Oxford Hills areas and beyond.

Dubbed “The Longest Day,” it was one of thousands of tournaments held across North America to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing the disease, Quinn said recently.

The Oxford Hills Bridge Club sponsored the event in conjunction with the American Contract Bridge League and the Alzheimer’s Association.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It has no cure, but treatments for symptoms are available and research continues.

Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. More than 5 million Americans are living with the disease and one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

Winners of the morning session were: first North-South, Pat Damon and Diane Bishop; second, Rosemarie Goodwin and Luke Merry; third, Richard Balian and Pete Cummings. First in B, Marty Round and Martha Thurlow; and first in C, Cynthia Clifford and Pat Daley.

First East-West, Fred Letourneau and Les Buzzell; second, Marta Clements and Nancy Farmer; third, Jan and Vern Arey; first in B, Marta Clements and Nancy Farmer; and first in C, Dennise Whitley and Barry Allen.

The winner of the party bridge game was Lynette Gatchell-Seames.

Afternoon session: first North-South, Nancy Lindgren and Nancy Lenfest; second, Pat Damon and Diane Bishop; third, Sue and James Poulin; first in B, Sue and James Poulin; first in C, Cindy and Bob Kirchherr.

First East-West were Rosemarie Goodwin and Luke Merry, second were Joe Whitehill and Pat Quinn, third were Fred Letourneau and Les Buzzell; first in B and C were Renate Auray and Wanda Finke.

Winners of the evening session were: first in A, Marta Clements and Hazel Glazier; second, Mike True and Mike Quinn; third, Rosemarie Goodwin and Richard Balian. First in B, Marta Clements and Hazel Glazier and first in C, Charlotte Farber and Paul Kahl.

Quinn said a number of businesses and organizations were involved in the event in addition to the players.

Lunch was provided by The Lake Store, Daddy O’s, Hannaford and Damon’s Convenience Stores in Augusta. For the evening meal, pizzas were provided by Ari’s Pizzas & Subs, Polly’s Variety, and The Outpost. Iced tea and lemonade were donated by Walgreens.

Quinn said businesses that supported the cause were: Bessey Motors, Variety, Cliff Gray Cremation and Funeral Services, Goodwill Fellowship First Universalist Church, W. J. Wheeler & Co., Paris Farmers Union, Hoisington & Bean, Record Building & Supply, A Cut Above, Raymond James-Tom Hastings, Oxford Hills Funeral Services, Norway Savings Bank, Dow’s Law Office, TD Bank, Reid’s Service Center, Goodwin’s Insurance, Madison Avenue (Bob & Sandra Bahre), Smedberg’s Crystal Spring Farm, Schiavi Enterprises and Winner’s Circle.

Additionally, Quinn said many individuals made generous donations and she thanked those who contributed time, money, food or supplies, plus the Oxford Recreation Association for use of the building.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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