OXFORD — Twenty-eight teams in Maine will participate in The Longest Day on Monday, June 20, to honor the strength, heart and endurance of those facing Alzheimer’s with a day of activity.

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. On The Longest Day, thousands will complete approximately 16 hours of activity ranging from running and cooking to knitting and playing cards to honor those living with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.

In the summer of 2013, the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) decided to participate in The Longest Day. At the time, Patricia Quinn was directing the Oxford Hills Bridge Club here in Maine. She and her club decided to participate. They were eager to see what they could raise to stop Alzheimer’s disease. Turns out they were able to raise lots of money and have lots of fun doing it.

“We first organized by asking volunteers to help,” said Patricia Quinn. “We got my husband Mike and Marta Clements who would arrange for food donations to feed us lunch and supper, as well as snacks. We sent out memos to all the bridge games in Maine asking for their support. We encouraged our players to get donations. Most players found it easy to obtain a $100 because everyone knows someone who has suffered from Alzheimer’s. One member received over $1,000 in donations.

“Since we had success the first year, we continued to do it every year and have realized more and more money each year, because everyone we ask helps. We get players from Augusta to Portland. We also get money from the Bangor and Eastern Maine group of bridge players which adds to our pot. In 2013, we raised $5,000, then $6,000 in 2014, and last year we raised $11,500. We came in tenth in the 2015 nationwide ACBL Longest Day competition. That was very satisfactory. Hopefully, this year will be even more successful.”

The Alzheimer’s Association, Maine Chapter, the Portland Public Library and OceanView at Falmouth have collaborated to present a special Longest Day public event focusing on life after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis called “I AM STILL HERE”: Alzheimer’s Stories From Across Maine. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Portland Public Library. The event will feature persons living with dementia and their care partners reading compelling, inspirational stories about their lives.

FMI: alz.org/thelongestday, facebook.com/fightalz, alz.org.