June has another significant milestone day, the summer solstice on June 21. This is the day when for those of us in the northern hemisphere, the sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. Those in the northernmost part of the U.S., such as Washington, Maine and Minnesota, can enjoy as much as 16-17 hours of daylight that day, and those in the southern reaches like south Florida and Texas will have just under 14 hours.
But this day has larger significance for those affected by Alzheimerās disease. The Alzheimerās AssociationĀ® has dubbed June 21 The Longest DayĀ®, to encourage people to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice. Thousands from around the world take part on this day to raise funds and awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the association.
More than 16 million people provide care to people with Alzheimerās and other dementia’s in the U.S. ā many of you are among them. And, you can show your support in any number of ways. The Longest Day website has ideas on ways to exercise, take part in sports, plan events and parties, play games, and take part in hobbies and arts.
You can register for an event, form a team and get donations, or if you donāt have the time or energy to plan your own activity, you can search for activities in your area and take part that way. You can also volunteer at an event, or simply donate. Every dollar raised benefits those affected by Alzheimerās in your community.