The ‘Longest Day’ – Fight against Alzheimer’s

The ‘Longest Day’ – Fight against Alzheimer’s

      FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — On June 20, the “Longest Day”, a nationally recognized day to raise awareness, funds, highlight and focus attention on individuals suffering with Alzheimer’s. The members of Zeta Rho Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA), in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, embraced this Day of awareness by engaging in activities with the staff and senior citizens who attend the Northwest Federated Woman’s Club of   Broward County, Inc.

The chapter’s national initiatives, Target II, Health Promotions and Target III, Family Strengthening connected resources and hosted a fun-filled morning of activities for senior citizens in support of the national mission of engaging people affected with the disease through performing physical and mental activities.

Twenty-eight members of the Sorority shared the morning with over 45 seniors and staff members during the visit. Activities consisted of bingo, sing-alongs and the seniors were serenaded by the Chapter’s famous and renowned singing sensation, the AKAettes.

Gift cards were given to the lucky game winners. The Pro-gram Director, Sandra Hunter and the Alzheimer’s Co-ordinator, Martha Aleide, were presented a $2050 check by the Chapter President, Annette Johnson-Hurry, Family Strengthening Committee Chairman, Barbara-Lumpkins and Health Promotions Committee Chairman, Gail Bouie. The donation presented, were proceeds from the Sorority’s “Sixth Annual Strike for A Cure” event held on May 14 at Striker’s Family Sports-center, in support of the Alzheimer’s Program at the Northwest Federated Women’s Senior Program.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease ac-counts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and African – Americans have a higher incidence of the disease. There are 10 warning signs we should all know and recognize. Riunite Franks, event manager, Alzheimer’s Association, Southeast Florida Chapter, attended the Chapter’s Sorority meeting on June 19th and provided an informative overview of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s. In support of this national initiative, team-Zeta Rho Omega AKA was formed and funds donated supported the Alzheimer’s Longest Day Campaign.

For more details on the warning signs, please go to www.ALZ.org.