The Alzheimer's Association has given its signature June fundraiser a new name. The campaign long known as The Longest Day, held each year on the summer solstice, is now called Do What You Love to End ALZ. The date and the purpose are unchanged: on June 21, the day with the most sunlight in the northern hemisphere, supporters are asked to raise money and awareness through whatever activity they enjoy.
The rebrand anchors Alzheimer's & Brain Awareness Month, observed each June. The association reports that more than 7 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer's, with projections reaching nearly 13 million by 2050. A few treatments that slow the disease's progression have been approved in the U.S. in recent years, but there is still no cure, and many other forms of dementia have no approved treatment at all.
Beyond fundraising, the month's programming leans heavily toward practical support. Virtual sessions throughout June cover everyday topics such as physical activity and nutrition, aimed at people living with dementia and the families caring for them. An in-person awareness event is planned for June 10 at the University of Florida, held in partnership with other organizations.
For caregivers, events like these serve a dual function that is easy to overlook in the fundraising headlines: they are also one of the few reliable, no-cost points of contact with education and peer support. The association continues similar programming throughout the year, not only in June.