03/29/2024
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Wesley Pines Retirement Community will host The Longest Day Drive-Thru Pick-Up and Fundraiser on Friday, June 18th, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Ruby D. McMillan Fellowship Center at 1000 Wesley Pines Road, Lumberton, NC. This is an educational and fundraising event for the Alzheimer’s Association. Participants can drive-thru and pick up a goodie bag, drop off donations, and get entered into a raffle for a door prize. Wesley Pines has partnered with the Lumber River Council of Governments and the Alzheimer’s Association to provide resources for the goodie bags.

Worldwide there are 50 million people living with dementia which equates to an annual global cost of $818 billion in U.S. dollars. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is set to skyrocket to 82 million by 2030. More than 6 million American’s are living with Alzheimer’s who are cared for by more than 11 million family and friends providing their care. Alzheimer’s kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. In 2020, caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias provided an estimated 15.3 billion hours of unpaid care. In 2021, Alzheimer’s disease will cost the United States $355 billion. By 2050, these costs are expected to exceed $1.1 trillion.

Each year on the summer solstice, falling on Sunday, June 20 this year, the Alzheimer’s Association ® hosts The Longest Day ®, an event to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Alzheimer’s. From sunrise to sunset, teams across the globe participate in activities they love – playing bridge, hiking, baking, karaoke – to fundraise and honor someone facing the disease. The duration of the event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers.

By coming together on June 18th, we want to show our residents, their families, and caregivers that they are not alone and inspire hope for our vision: a world without Alzheimer’s. Wesley Pines plans to use this opportunity to bring awareness of this disease and its growing impact, show our support to those living with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers, and raise funds that will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. The Longest Day event is open to the community and everyone is welcome!

About the Alzheimer’s Association ®

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. It is the largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research. The Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Its vision is a world without Alzheimer's. Visit www.alz.org or call 800-272-3900 to learn more.

About the Lumber River Council of Governments

The Lumber River Council of Governments (LRCOG) or “Region N” is a regional planning and service agency representing 36 local governments in Bladen, Hoke, Richmond, Robeson, and Scotland Counties. The LRCOG serves as a planner/administrator for a number of federal administrative programs dealing with older adults, worker training, and transportation planning. The LRCOG is also a direct service agency for several programs such as older adult nutrition, caregiver resources, housing rehabilitation, and focused worker training initiatives. Visit www.lumberrivercog.org or call 910-618-5533 to learn more.

About Wesley Pines Retirement Community

Wesley Pines Retirement Community is the area’s only continuing care retirement community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. To find out more about The Longest Day or to learn more about the community please call Amy Shooter at (910)738-9691 or visit the website at www.wesleypines.org.

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