EVANS, Ga. () – Families from Brandon Wilde Senior Living celebrated the longest day of the year and brought awareness to Alzheimer’s on Friday, June 20.

Friday’s festivities were part of the Alzheimer Association’s national Fight the Darkness campaign. The annual fundraising event is used to raise awareness about care, support and research for the disease.

Residents were able to choose the activities they want to participate in, like balloon volleyball.

“There are millions of people who have this disease and people know about that they are coming into that point where it’s even been diagnosed early on for them, and so it’s to support them,” said Greg Byrge, executive director at Brandon Wilde Senior Living. “It’s not so much about the research, but it’s about the support of the family ’cause it’s affected the family, not just the person it’s affecting.”

Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps