For Sam Marks, owner of the Bridge Club of Atlanta, The Longest Day hits close to home.
“Alzheimer’s is a horrible disease,” he said. “It takes away everything that makes a person special.”
In 2010, Sam’s mother, Esther Rosenberg, began experience memory loss and was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her family was in shock.
“My mom was a healthy, active woman,” Sam said. “She even worked out with a trainer a few times a week. The diagnosis blindsided her.”
Watching his mother struggle with her diagnosis and lose her battle in 2015 became one of his primary reasons for joining the American Contract Bridge League in the organization’s support of the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day campaign. Since joining the Association as a global partner six years ago, the ACBL has raised more than $3.5 million through club events, like the ones held at the Bridge Club of Atlanta.
“In my experience, bridge players are incredibly generous,” Sam said. “The Longest Day provides an opportunity to fight a disease that impacts many families while providing participants the opportunity to play a game they love.”
The Bridge Club of Atlanta will host several fundraising events throughout the month of June culminating with the club’s three fundraising games on Thursday, June 21. An additional 220-plus registered teams will also host fundraising events the week of June 14-24 in hopes of surpassing the ACBL’s $1 million global fundraising goal.
“Hundreds of people have a story like mine, and I can’t imagine anything worse,” Sam said. “Hopefully, through these fundraising efforts, we will be able to help the Alzheimer’s Association find a cure for this awful disease.”
For more information or to register for The Longest Day, visit www.alz.org/ACBL.
