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Longest Day Benefit Scheduled

Voices - 6/13/2018

NEWTOWN - The Newtown Bridge Club will hold its second annual Longest Day benefit to raise funds for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association on Tuesday, June 19, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St.

There will be bridge sessions from morning to night, complimentary food provided by local restaurants, music, and an opportunity to socialize with others who enjoy the game of bridge.

A press release from the club noted that Alzheimer's Disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, increasing 123 percent between 2000 and 2015.

The Longest Day event will honor the strength, heart and endurance displayed every day by Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers.

Given the long duration of this disease, the strain on caregivers can last a number of years and produce serious declines in their own physical, emotional and financial well-being.

In 2017, 16 million Americans provided an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care for Alzheimer patients.

Club member Ginny Morris, whose husband recently died of Alzheimer's Disease, reflected, "Living with this disease is a long and difficult challenge for both patient and caregivers, often lasting for many years. I do believe that the hardest thing you'll ever have to do is to mourn the loss of a loved one who is still alive. I will be forever grateful for the support I have received from my bridge buddies. We are all keenly aware of the benefit of the mental exercise which playing bridge provides, and of the importance of staying mentally active as one grows older. The Newtown Bridge Club provides a wonderful opportunity for cognitive exercise in a warm, friendly environment. It is truly a win/win situation."

The morning games will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with breakfast pastries and coffee and tea starting at 9 a.m.

In the gymnasium on the lowest level, there will be a social game for non-duplicate players and separate duplicate games for players with less 50 masterpoints and another for players with less than 300 masterpoints.

In the Alexandria Room on the top floor, there will be an open duplicate game for more competitive players.

Lunch will be served in both locations from 1 to 2 p.m.

The afternoon games from 2 to 5 p.m. will have three games in the gym: Social Bridge, 299ers and Chat Bridge where players can ask for advice as they bid and play.

There will be another open duplicate game in the Alexandria Room.

Dinner will be provided in the Alexandria Room from 5 to 6 p.m., with live jazz, followed by two evening games from 6 to 9 p.m., one for players with less than 50 points and a separate open game.

Bridge players are invited to play in one, two or three games.

There will be partners provided for players who come alone.

Game fees are $15 for morning, afternoon or evening duplicate and $10 for morning or afternoon social bridge.

All food is complimentary.

Any player who brings in at least $100 in donations to the Alzheimer's Association will play free all day.

The Newtown Bridge Club is the second largest bridge club in Connecticut and holds five ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every week at Edmond Town Hall: Mondays at 12:30 p.m., Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesdays at 10 a.m., and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m.

In addition, bridge lessons are offered on a regular basis for players of all levels.

More information is available by contacting Club Manager Susan Fronapfel at 203-733-8525 or visiting www.newtownbridge.org.

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