OXFORD — The Longest Day means more than the onset of the summer solstice.
On Monday, June 20, more than 100 bridge players from Oxford Hills, Lewiston-Auburn and beyond will gather to raise money for and awareness of the Alzheimer’s Association by playing continuous rounds of bridge from sunrise to sunset.
Dubbed The Longest Day, it is one of thousands of bridge tournaments being held across North America on the summer solstice to honor the strength, passion and endurance of those facing the disease.
The Oxford Hills Bridge Club will sponsor three bridge games at the Oxford Community Center at 223 King St. The event is co-sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League and the Alzheimer’s Association.
Organizer Patricia Quinn of Otisfield said games will be played at 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to winners, and lunch and supper will be provided.
The cost is $10 per game, or one free play with $50 of sponsor donations; two free plays with $75 of sponsor donations; and three free plays with $100 of sponsor donations. All money goes directly to the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Last year, we raised over $10,000 and hope to do the same this year,” Quinn said.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual disabilities 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 form of dementia.
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Those who cannot play in The Longest Day bridge tournament on June 20 can donate to the Alzheimer’s Association by contacting Patricia Quinn at 413-636-1612 or can send contributions to her at 76 Otisfield Cove Road, Otisfield, ME 04270.
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