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By Stephen Press
Hometown Weekly Staff
The purple signs and stands stood out on the side of the road like crocuses against spring earth. Smiling children carried cups of lemonade to drivers as they got out of their cars. Neighbors chatted cordially and shared stories of their friends and loved ones.
This was The Longest Day, The Alzheimer's Association's annual event to raise both funds and awareness for Alzheimer's Disease. Distilled down on the Longest Day's website: "Held annually on the summer solstice, the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers. Teams are encouraged to create their own experience as they fundraise and participate in an activity they love to honor someone facing the disease."
Here in Needham, the Day took the form of a Spin-A-Thon and over 20 lemonade stands throughout the town. Spearheaded by Needham residents Margie Levin and Suzanne Lissy, the event aimed to net over $50,000 in donations for the day.
For the individuals working at the lemonade stands throughout town, it was a labor of love. Those stopping for a refreshing drink on the beautiful, sunny day could not only wet their whistles, but also find themselves engaged in sincere conversations about a disease that has touched nearly everyone in one way or another.
"It's a chance to raise awareness for those who may not know enough about Alzheimer's. To share stories and to try to put ourselves out there to help in any way that we can. We've had a couple family members who've had dementia," said Liv Nash, who sat under a tent with her daughter, Ellie. "It's just a terrible disease. We're doing what we can as able people."
Just down the road in front of Hazel's Bakery, a compact car displayed a purple "Lemonade" banner on its back window. Energetic kids jumped up and down, waving signs to entice passers-by. A child sat to have her face painted. Kai Dixon, sitting behind a table, poured a cold glass of ambrosia. "My grandmother died of Alzheimer's," he said, "so it means a lot to help out and be a part of it."
Not far from Hazel's, Gabrielle Bridgers waited for thirsty guests at her own stand. "It's a chance for me to build awareness and raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association in honor of my mother," said Bridgers, whose passion for the Alzheimer's cause seemed to defy written explanation. "That's the tragedy of the disease - it's so slow, and you can see the changes over time that affect not only the person, but the family."
Most people at the lemonade stands, it seemed, could trace their participation in the day back to one or two influential individuals in their lives.
"Our Nana has it," said young Hadley Gibbons, who was no exception to that general rule.
"It's almost a silent disease in so many ways in that there isn't so much research nowadays. As our population ages, there are more and more people who are living longer," added Hadley's mother, Sarah. "It's really going to affect many more people in the future, so I think it's really important for the medical community and for communities together to get a grip on this. Understand that this is something we need to do something about. For everybody, for the whole community."
It wasn't simply about fighting the disease, though. For those whose lives had been touched by Alzheimer's, simply having others with whom to share stories and empathy was a powerful, perhaps even therapeutic experience.
"It speaks to how supportive our community is and how people come together. Not only are we fighting for those people who have Alzheimer's, but as families who have a family member who has it, it's really nice to have the support system to be able to talk to people that way," reflected Sarah.
"I think it brings the community together for something very special and very meaningful."
