Lynette Gladdis Shines the Light on The Longest Day

The Alzheimer's Association Greater New Jersey Chapter (AAGNJ), the leading volunteer-driven voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support, advocacy and research is spotlighting people who are making a difference in the fight to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia. With more than 6 million Americans living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia, and more than 11 million family and friends providing care and support for them, individuals across the country are seeking ways to assist those afflicted with the disease. In New Jersey alone, there are more than 190,000 people living with the disease and 347,000 caregivers. On June 21, many of them will be participating in The Longest Day (TLD). The event is held annually on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice, and is a day to raise awareness and funds to help end the disease.

Today we say thank you to Lynette Gladdis of Lebanon, NJ, who has participated in TLD for the last six years. “Lynette's passion is to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia. She continues the fight each year, shining her light for her father and all those affected by the disease. She is not only one of our top fundraisers and a Solstice Champion by raising more than $8500 in 2021, but she raises critically important awareness each year through her participation! We are so lucky to have champions like Lynette by our side in the fight against this disease," said Danielle Buckler, Special Events Coordinator, AAGNJ.

Lynette explains, “My father died 6 1/2 years ago after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He had a particularly difficult time the last couple of years of his life, in and out of emergency rooms and facilities and in need of proper care as his situation degraded. When my dad was diagnosed, I decided to register for, and participate in, my first Longest Day fundraiser. I felt that it was something that I could do to give back to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater New Jersey community. It also gave me the feeling that it was something that I could control in an otherwise uncontrollable disease. My fundraisers have varied over the years but generally, I try to do 24 things, one thing for every hour of The Longest Day. For example I have walked 24 miles in a day, I have run with my kids eight different 5K‘s (24 miles total), volunteered or donated to 24 other worthy organizations, and did a local triathlon with my kids that included an 8 mile walk, and an 8 mile bike ride and swim.”

“Last year‘s fundraiser was perhaps the most meaningful of all because I decided to honor 24 friends and family members who have been impacted by Alzheimer’s with a 24 mile walk. I wrote the name of each person I was honoring on a colored card and took a picture of myself with that card for each mile that I walked and posted that on social media, tagging the appropriate friends or family members. That increased awareness of my fundraiser and the disease, which resulted in making greater connections with those I tagged, and helping people understand just how far reaching this disease really is.”

Lynette concludes, “I will be participating in The Longest Day again this year although I have not decided what my activity will be. I usually do it on Father’s Day weekend even though it's not the actual summer solstice because it’s my way of connecting with, and honoring my dad, on Father’s Day.”

Show your support for The Longest Day and register yourself and your activity today at https://www.alz.org/tld.