Members of the Syosset’s Sagamore Bridge Club raised more than $125,000 for Alzheimer’s research by playing a daylong game of bridge on The Longest Day, an annual fundraising event held on June 21 by the Alzheimer’s Association and its global partner the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL).
Of the more than 2,000 teams that participated nationwide in The Longest Day, Sagamore Bridge Club ranks first in the nation for fundraising and is the top fundraising team out of all ACBL-affiliated clubs. Last year, the team ranked second in the country for raising $84,200.
So far, ACBL has calculated approximately $500,000 in total donations from the 197 participating bridge clubs across 44 states and Canada and it expects that number to grow to more than $600,000 after the final numbers are reported. Since their partnership began in 2013, bridge players and ACBL have raised more than $1.5 million on The Longest Day.
The Sagamore Bridge Clubs is one of just 12 fundraising teams out of more than 2,000 teams nationwide that raised more than $10,000 for the cause.
With an average age of 69, ACBL’s members—most of whom play regularly at local bridge clubs—are significantly affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The Longest Day is an opportunity for bridge players to join the fight against the disease while receiving the mental and social healthy aging benefits the game of bridge offers. According to Robert Hartman, CEO of ACBL, studies show that playing board games such as brige can help the older generation retain their mental sharpness.
“Studies have shown strong links between cognitive training and social activity—two of bridge’s chief benefits—and improved brain health,” said Hartman. “The game alone challenges and stimulates mental acuity, but there’s also a strong social aspect that can aid with successful aging. This year’s record level of support shows how committed our members remain to trying to raise awareness about the disease.”
