Every day is long for the families who care for loved ones dealing with Alzheimer’s disease, so the Alzheimer’s Association created an event called the Longest Day, which took place this year on June 20, the summer solstice.
It offers bridge players the opportunity to play their favorite game from sunrise to sunset contributing both registration fees and, in many cases, donations to the cause as well. The last I heard, they had raised more than $6,000, with donations still coming in.
Jim Beatty has organized the local Longest Day for the past three years with assistance from the Durango Duplicate Bridge Club. There are more details than one might imagine – making sure there are four people at each table, ensuring there are enough decks of cards and score sheets, and keeping the players fueled for the long day.
As is par for the course, local businesses stepped up to help with the last task. Subway provided sandwiches, and Bread chipped in the cookies.
People came and went during the day, with seven tables in the morning, nine in the afternoon and four finishing off the day in the evening. Players came from all over the area, including Durango, Pagosa Springs, Creede, Salida and Farmington.
Elaine Stumpo, the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Southwest Colorado, stopped by to take some photos and thank the players for their support of the organization. The association offers support groups both for those dealing with the disease and the folks taking care of them, information, and, of course, it funds research to treat and eliminate Alzheimer’s.
Jean Walter graciously served as my correspondent for this item.
If you think this disease isn’t your problem because you don’t know anyone struggling with dementia, think again.
As the baby boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, age, our society is facing soaring rates of Alzheimer’s and soaring costs of caring for them. One study estimated that by 2040, almost one-quarter of Medicare spending will go toward the care of seniors with dementia. And it’s not just money. We don’t begin to have the infrastructure – the care facilities, the lockdown units for the 70 percent of Alzheimer’s patients who wander at some stage of the disease or even the service support network for those families who care for a loved one in their homes – needed for that level of stricken population.
It’s particularly appropriate that this fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association involves the game of bridge. Several research studies have shown that more social contact protects against cognitive decline, and bridge is one of the best ways I know to set aside quality time to spend with friends.
But more than that, a study by the University of California found that while card and board games in general are important for memory acuity, bridge, which requires players to use memory, visualization and sequencing, may also stimulate the immune system. Another study, by the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed the frequency of playing games was associated with greater brain volume in several regions affected by Alzheimer’s.
In the last couple of years, several of Durango’s grand dames have become nonagenarians, and they all have two things in common. They’re all still sharp as a tack, and they are all excellent bridge players. Anecdotal proof, yes, but nonetheless compelling.
One of the single biggest problems facing the game is that most of its players are older than 50. Many people have told me they’ve always wondered about it, but it’s “so hard.” It may be hard to play at the level Sandy Wagnon, who just achieved Life Master ranking, does, but since I’ve never aspired to that, I find it just stretches my brain in all the right ways.
Barry Hillmer, who’s one of our area’s best bridge players, recently offered a class called Learn Bridge in One Day, and if he ever offers it again, I encourage folks to give it a try. You will stimulate your brain, make new friends, have fun and, next year, you can help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
It’s a win-win-win-win proposition.
I missed last week’s Neighbors column because I was stricken by a wicked bug, so I have a lot of people to wish happy birthday – Greg Maxey, Adam Bogle, BJo Hatten, Robin Goldman, Mike Dalenberg, Linda Tikalsky, Duane Danielson, Ken Hartlein, Abigail Lowe, Charlie Mickel, Richard White, Clark Lagow, J.C. Ellingson-Condie, Bonnie Jung, Freddie Mickel, Michael Meyer, Patricia Padilla, Ava Rose McClellan, Pat Demarest, Megan Cole, Mary Irby, Joe Potter, Daphne Cahill, Jan Nesset, Loris Rank, Mary Roberts, Russ Turpin, Clark Kepple, Jill Wiegert, Lucy Martinez, Hannah Buck, Brian Van Mols, Kayte Barnes, Suzanne Zerbe, Mary Santistevan, Sally Silva, Jessica Miller, Deck Shaline, Buster Weahkee Jr., Jerry Sheldon, Debby Morgan, Bee Atwood, Donna Chase, Maria Kolter, Moni Grushkin, Joyce Wood, Julie Yancy and Ian Bowers.
While I’m thinking about stretching brains, let me put a quick plug in for an event coming up in two weeks – but preregistration is greatly encouraged. On Tuesdays from September through April, Ted Holteen, my former colleague at The Durango Herald, runs Super Ted’s Super Trivia at Ska Brewing Co. He takes the summer off for softball (and life), but offers one session in the summer to benefit the Durango Arts Center.
It will take place this year at 6:12 p.m. July 19 at the arts center.
It’s something trivia fans look forward to, especially because he has a lot of prizes to give away. The grand prize this year is five tickets to Michael Franti and Spearhead on Aug. 6 at Three Springs, courtesy of KSUT-FM. (I imagine it was semi-easy to get those, as Holteen also hosts “Ike’s America Radio Program” for the public radio station on Thursday mornings.)
Registration is easy – visit http://durangoarts.org/super-trivia/ to put your team of up to five in the game. The cost is $100 per team.
Holteen is always fun, funny and challenging – all good things for our brains.
These folks had a fireworks display for their anniversaries – Dan and Robin Goldman, Eric and Jenny Nedergaard, Larry and Margaret Hjermstad, Don and Laura Yale, Jim and Julie Williams, Steve and Tamra Lavengood, John and Shanna Stordahl, John and Louise Grayson, Carl and Shelly Hotter, Joe T. and Peggy Herrera, Tony and Nancy Stohl, Joyce and Jerry Wood, Tina and Jim Trump and Brad and Susan Stamets.
Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk.
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