Story By Mary Bailey

Last week, Malinda Moore, Boaz native and Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Association in Marshall County, got to experience the trip of a lifetime and support a cause close to her heart. 

Moore was able to join over 1,100 Alzheimer’s Association Advocates from across the country at the 2025 Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) forum in Washington D.C. 

“As a longtime volunteer and advocate, I fight for my mother, and all affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” Moore said of her passion. “This experience provides advocates encouraging updates on treatment developments and screening advances. We learned that two treatments are currently available, with one potentially becoming accessible as soon as next month. These developments represent significant progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Equally important, new screening options are being developed that we all hope will become readily available as part of routine annual medical screenings.” 

Moore said the potential integration of Alzheimer’s screening into regular doctor visits could revolutionize early detection and intervention, allowing for earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients and families.

On Tuesday, June 10, Moore and other Alabama advocates painted the Capitol purple as they met with Congress in a Historic Day of Action. 

The comprehensive congressional outreach achieved several key objectives:

• Advocating for increased federal funding for Alzheimer’s research and support programs.

• Sharing personal stories to humanize the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on families.

• Building bipartisan support for critical legislation affecting those living with dementia.

• Strengthening the national network of advocates committed to fighting Alzheimer’s disease.

“Tuesday’s remarkable advocacy forum in Washington, D.C demonstrated the power of unified action, with advocates conducting meetings that covered every single member of Congress. The 1,100+ volunteers brought personal stories and policy priorities directly to lawmakers, creating a foundation of political engagement that naturally extends to grassroots fundraising efforts like The Longest Day,” Moore continued. 

“The Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day encourages participants to organize fundraising activities of their choice from sunrise to sunset. Whether it’s hosting tournaments, teaching lessons, organizing walks or simply gathering friends for awareness activities every effort contributes to the cause. The flexibility of the format allows communities to tailor their participation to local interests and capabilities. “

Moore said the foundation of advocacy and community connection created an ideal launching pad for Longest Day participation as advocates channeled their energy from policy change to fundraising support.

“The fundraising efforts directly support the Alzheimer’s Association’s mission of care, support, and research. With nearly seven million Americans currently living with Alzheimer’s disease and millions more serving as caregivers the need for resources and research funding remains critical, even as promising treatments emerge, and screening capabiliies advance. The treatment updates shared at the forum demonstrate that research investments are yielding real results. However, continued funding is essential to ensure these treatments become widely accessible and to support the development of additional therapeutic options. Similarly, the promising screening developments will require sustained support to integrate into healthcare systems nationwide,” Moore said. “Previous Longest Day campaigns have raised millions of dollars, funding everything from local support programs to the cutting-edge research initiatives that are producing today’s treatment breakthroughs. The advocates who met with Congress this week understand firsthand how these funds translate into hope and tangible progress for families facing Alzheimer’s and all other related dementias.”

The Longest Day is the day with the most light, the summer solstice, which is on Friday June 20. 

“As this day approaches, the momentum generated by the community forum positions the area well for a successful Longest Day campaign. The combination of increased awareness, strengthened community connections and clear understanding of the cause creates an ideal foundation for meaningful participation.

Community members interested in participating in The Longest Day can visit the Alzheimer’s Association website to register teams, find local participants, or make donations to support existing efforts. Every contribution, whether time, talent, or treasure, helps advance the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” Moore concluded.

“The transition from forum education to fundraising action represents the kind of community engagement that makes real difference in the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. As participants prepare for the longest day of the year, they carry forward the knowledge, connections and inspiration gained from coming together to learn and support one another.”

For more information about Boaz’s future involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association and fundraisers visit alz.org.   

For more information on “The Longest Day” follow them on Instagram @thelongestdayal.