By CLARKE STACKHOUSE / Staff Writer

 

HOOVER—The American Contract Bridge League is joining forces with the Alzheimer’s Association for The Longest Day, a program benefiting Alzheimer’s research on Friday, June 21.

This is the second year the Alzheimer’s Association has held The Longest Day and the first year to partner with the ACBL, said Darbi Padbury, marketing supervisor of the ACBL.

The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, is on June 21, giving the event its name, Padbury said.

The Longest Day is a nationwide event and bridge clubs all across the country are participating. Each bridge club will have different events throughout the day, Padbury said.

The Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club, located in Hoover, is one of the participants.

The day of activities begins at 6:30 a.m. with a pajama game of bridge, Padbury said. The day continues with multiple charity games of bridge.

“We expect hundreds of players through the course of the day,” Padbury said.

The ACBL and the Alzheimer’s Association are accepting donations for The Longest Day. The Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club has already raised more than $3,000 of a $5,000 goal, Padbury said. Donations will be accepted throughout the event as well.

“The community is more than welcome to come by and drop off donations at the bridge club, or sit and play a game,” Padbury said.

The day of games ends with a final bridge game starting at 6:30 p.m.

The partnership came together over the common bond of promoting brain health, Padbury said.

“Researchers say mentally stimulating games, like bridge, can ward off brain disease like dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Padbury said. “The partnership just makes sense.”

If interested in donating to The Longest Day, visit Thelongestday.alz.org. If interested in attending, show up on June 21 to the Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club located at 114 Business Center Drive, Hoover, AL