How You Can Join the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s
The Longest Day for Alzheimer’s is a fundraising event put on by the Alzheimer’s Association that takes place on the summer solstice — or the longest day of the year.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia that can lead to memory loss, mood changes, disorientation, and more.
Although there’s currently no cure, there are actions people can do to help fund, build awareness, and support research efforts. The Longest Day for Alzheimer’s can be an easy opportunity to get involved.
The Longest Day for Alzheimer’s is a fundraising event put on by the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s a global call to action to join up to end Alzheimer’s.
It takes place on the summer solstice on June 21 — aka, the longest day of the year. This is a symbolic gesture designed to clear the darkness of Alzheimer’s on the brightest day of the year.
Interestingly, Americans show more favor toward Medicare for All healthcare initiatives than they do toward these efforts when they are labeled as “single payer,” most likely due to the popularity of the Medicare program, STAT
People worldwide can participate by signing up to do any activity they choose and turn it into a fundraiser. You can do it within your community, with your family and friends, or just by yourself.
You can essentially do any activity you want for the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s! Some choose to exercise, some choose to play a game or sport, and some choose to spend the day doing a favorite hobby.
If you’re unsure of which activity to choose, you can check out the Alzheimer’s Association’s website to get inspired by past participants.
By choosing to fundraise instead, you can either raise the money without doing an activity or combine the Longest Day fundraising with a celebratory day you already have coming up (like a birthday).
You’ll need to sign up online to participate in the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s. You’ll set your fundraising goal there, decide on a team name, and enter basic contact information. After that, you’ll dive into more detail, describing what activities you and your team will do, your connection to the cause, and what day you’ll host or perform your activity.
After agreeing to the terms, you’re all set. The site will then lead you to set up a fundraising page, which you can share with your community.
When it comes to getting supplies for the event, that depends on what you decide to do. For example, if you’re hosting a watercolor night, you’ll have to supply the paints, paper, and brushes. If you decide to go for a hike, you’ll only need your boots, camera, and water bottle.
Every dollar raised during The Longest Day goes back to the Alzheimer’s Association. This money helps them provide care and support to those facing Alzheimer’s, drives research toward treatment, prevention, and a cure, and helps them advocate for the needs and rights of people affected by Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association is always looking for volunteers to help find participants, coach on fundraising and event planning, and spread the word.
If you’re interested in volunteering, check out the Alzheimer’s Association website.
Some companies and employers may be willing to match the money you raise for the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s. Use this tool to see if your employer appears listed as a group that will match funds.
If your employer doesn’t appear listed, speak with your manager, boss, human resources, or development team to see if that’s something they may be interested in doing.
To find all the information you need about the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s, check out the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.
When can I sign up to participate in the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s?
Any time. If you’re interested in participating on June 21 of this year, sign up soon to get a head start on your fundraising goal.
Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s?
No, there’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are medications people can take and other ways to manage their symptoms.
How do you get Alzheimer’s?
Experts haven’t determined a cause yet, but some risk factors may include: age, family history, and genetics.
The Longest Day for Alzheimer’s is an annual day of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association that takes place on June 21 — the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.
It’s designed to clear the darkness of Alzheimer’s by individuals participating in all sorts of activities on the brightest day of the year.
If you want to learn more about how to get involved, go to the Alzheimer’s Association’s website.
Last medically reviewed on April 3, 2023
How we reviewed this article:
Austra Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
- About Alzheimer’s disease. (2018).
cdc.gov/aging/publications/aag/alzheimers.html - Basics of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: What is Alzheimer’s disease? (2021).
nia.nih.gov/health/what-alzheimers-disease - Dementia. (2023).
who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia - The day with the most light is the day we fight. (2023).
act.alz.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=the_longest_day
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