The Longest Day 2025: Alzheimer’s Awareness and Event Guide
The Longest Day is approaching. This year, consider watching The Genius of Marian as part of your June 20 plans. It's a deeply personal film that delves into love, memory, and the enduring bonds of family in the face of Alzheimer's. Visit the link to stream this unforgettable film, in its entirety, for free.
Whether you're organizing an event, joining a team, or simply lighting a candle at dusk, sharing this story can be a heartfelt act of community. We understand the emotional journey Alzheimer's brings; you're not alone - and you don't have to be. Read our guide below to learn more about The Longest Day and how you can take part.
Table of Contents
What Is The Longest Day?
How Does The Longest Day Work?
The Longest Day: What’s New in 2025?
Why Does The Longest Day Matter?
How Can You Get Involved?
Real Stories: How The Day Changes Lives
Frequently Asked Questions
Break the Silence - Get Involved
If you’ve watched a parent or grandparent slip away into the affliction that is Alzheimer’s Disease, you know the effect on families.
Every day can feel like an impossible "forever". That’s why The Longest Day matters. It’s not just a fundraiser - it’s a day to show that love outlasts memory, and that nobody is alone in this fight.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about The Longest Day: what it is, why it exists, and how you can make a difference. Whether you want to honor someone you love, raise money for Alzheimer’s research, or just feel a little less alone - you’re in the right place.
What Is The Longest Day?
The Longest Day is the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual global event, held each year on or near the summer solstice.
Instead of a single gathering, it’s a worldwide day of action. People everywhere are invited to “do what they love” - hiking, baking, playing bridge, or anything else - and turn it into a fundraiser for Alzheimer’s care and research.
The event’s name comes from the summer solstice, the day with the most daylight, which stands as a symbol for the long, difficult days faced by those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
How Does The Longest Day Work?
Anyone can take part. You pick an activity that means something to you, register through the Alzheimer’s Association, and set up a fundraising page. After that, it’s up to you how you honor your loved one and gather your friends and family.
Before you start planning, it helps to see how others have turned their passions into powerful statements of support.
Endurance and Outdoor Challenges
Some people take on physical feats that mirror the uphill battle against Alzheimer’s. Teams have hiked all 48 of New Hampshire’s mountain peaks, biked across states, or ridden motorcycles from Mexico to Canada. These journeys not only raise money, but also show the world how determined our community is.Sports and Games
Staying active is at the heart of The Longest Day. Bridge clubs have raised millions by hosting marathon games - fitting, since playing bridge is linked to brain health and many players have personal connections to dementia. Golf tournaments, 16-hour relays, bowling, and pickleball tournaments are annual traditions for some teams.Hobbies, Arts, and Personal Passions
You don’t have to be an athlete to make a difference. People have hosted sunrise-to-sunset dance-a-thons, karaoke parties, or art shows. Others bake, knit, garden, or play mahjong - all in honor of someone they love. The beauty of The Longest Day is that anything can become a tribute.Community and Family Gatherings
For many, The Longest Day is about togetherness. Families and friends gather for backyard barbecues, picnics, or memorial walks. Some hold candlelight vigils at sunset. Every year, communities “go purple” - wearing purple, decorating spaces, and filling social media with photos to raise awareness and show support.
No matter the activity, the goal is the same: raise money for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research, and spark conversations that break the silence and stigma around dementia.
The Longest Day - What’s New in 2025?
Each year, The Longest Day grows - more participants, more creativity, and more stories of hope. As June 20, 2025 approaches, here’s what’s happening:
Across the country, thousands of grassroots events are coming together. Local chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association are hosting kickoff parties and webinars to help people brainstorm ideas, leading to a surge in hobby-themed and community-driven fundraisers.
Pickleball tournaments and mahjong games are especially popular this year, with national teams like Mah Jongg for Memories leading the charge. Line dance marathons, art exhibitions, and bowling events are drawing in new faces, while high schools and colleges are bringing in younger generations with e-sports live streams and dance-offs.
For those who prefer to participate from home, there are plenty of virtual options: online gaming tournaments, livestream charity events, virtual yoga classes, and even a nationwide sunrise/sunset photo contest. The Alzheimer’s Association’s mobile app offers a “June Challenge,” where raising $200 online earns you a commemorative T-shirt or tote.
It’s not just individuals and families who get involved. Public figures like Oscar Nuñez, Yvette Nicole Brown, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Maria Shriver are using their platforms to champion the cause. Companies and organizations are running matching gift campaigns, while senior living communities open their doors for public events and fundraisers.
The Longest Day isn’t just an American movement. Bridge clubs in Canada, summer solstice walks in the UK, and activities in Australia, South Africa, India, and Japan show that Alzheimer’s knows no borders. Social media brings together participants from dozens of countries, creating a worldwide show of solidarity.
Why Does The Longest Day Matter?
For families across the globe, Alzheimer’s isn’t just a diagnosis - it’s a daily reality. The money raised on The Longest Day funds crucial research, provides care and support services like the 24/7 helpline and support groups, and helps push for policy changes that can make life better for everyone affected by dementia.
But the impact goes beyond dollars and cents. Every event, every purple shirt, every story shared - helps break the silence and stigma that so often surround Alzheimer’s. Local news outlets highlight inspiring stories, and the Alzheimer’s Association provides team captains with facts and materials to share, so every event becomes an opportunity to inform and unite communities.
How Can You Get Involved?
If you’re reading this, you’re already halfway there. Here’s how you can make The Longest Day your own:
Start or Join a Fundraising Team: Register as a team captain or join an existing group at alz.org/longestday. Teams often honor a loved one or unite around a shared interest. The Association provides a fundraising toolkit, a personal donation page, and coaching emails to help you succeed.
Pick an Activity You Love: Choose something meaningful - whether it’s a bake sale, golf outing, read-a-thon, or game night. Get creative. Some people break the day into shifts or organize relay events. There’s no wrong way to participate.
Volunteer: If leading an event isn’t your style, support others by volunteering at local fundraisers or helping spread the word. Contact your local chapter or offer to help a neighbor’s event.
Donate and Fundraise Online: Support a team or individual by donating through the official website. Share fundraising pages on social media, or use Facebook and Instagram donation tools to rally friends and family.
Spread Awareness - Go Purple: Wear purple on June 20, post on social media using hashtags like #TheLongestDay and #ENDALZ, and share your story. The Association offers templates and a “Shine a Light” photo gallery to help you connect with others.
Attend Local and Virtual Events: Check community calendars for public events, or join virtual activities if nothing is happening nearby. Every bit of participation helps raise funds and awareness.
Tie The Longest Day to Personal Milestones: Turn birthdays, anniversaries, or graduations into fundraisers by asking for donations in honor of loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s.
No matter how you choose to participate, you’re part of a compassionate community that refuses to let Alzheimer’s win.
Real Stories: How The Day Changes Lives
One of the most moving parts of The Longest Day is seeing how people turn loss into action and isolation into community. Here are just a few stories that have stuck with us:
A group of caregivers in California began their Longest Day by watching the sunrise over the ocean, sharing memories of loved ones lost to Alzheimer’s. They hiked together and lit candles at sunset, turning a day of grief into a day of hope.
In New England, teams have taken on the “48 Peaks Challenge,” summiting all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000-foot mountains in one day. Each team takes a peak or two, and together they raise tens of thousands of dollars for Alzheimer’s research.
A professional baker in Ohio turned his kitchen into a fundraising hub, baking from sunrise to sunset and selling everything to neighbors, with all proceeds going to the cause.
A church group in Texas hosted a “Memory Café” where caregivers and people living with dementia could relax, dance, and enjoy music - a reminder that The Longest Day is about love, not just loss.
These stories aren’t just inspiring; they’re proof that even in the face of Alzheimer’s, community and compassion can light the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Longest Day?
It’s a global fundraising event organized by the Alzheimer’s Association, held on the summer solstice to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.
How do I sign up?
Register at alz.org/longestday as a team or individual.Do I have to be an athlete?
Not at all. Any activity can become a fundraiser - choose what’s meaningful to you.Where does the money go?
Funds support Alzheimer’s research, care services, and advocacy efforts.Can I participate outside the U.S.?
Absolutely. The Longest Day is a global movement. Join from anywhere and connect with others worldwide.
Break the Silence - Get Involved
If you’re still wondering whether you should get involved, consider this: every act of kindness, every dollar raised, every conversation started makes a difference. For families internationally, and maybe your own, The Longest Day is a reminder that we’re not alone. We’re part of a community that refuses to give up hope.
Pick your passion. Gather your friends. Wear purple. Let’s make June 20, 2025, a day that shines with love, support, and the promise of a brighter future for everyone facing Alzheimer’s.
For more resources, tips, and stories from families who know this fight firsthand, visit Genius of Marian’s Alzheimer’s Support Hub and the Alzheimer’s Association’s official Longest Day page.
If you have a personal story about The Longest Day, share it with us via email for a future post and tag #TheLongestDay and #GeniusOfMarian on social media. Your voice helps someone else feel seen.
And that’s the kind of hope we all need.