A Penn Hills woman is working to honor her late mother and raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease, an illness she said is widely misunderstood.
“It’s not an old person’s thing,” Amy Davidson said. “My mother passed away at 69, but she battled it for more than 10 years.”
Davidson will host a fundraiser June 18 at Deer Lakes Park to honor Patty Frost, and to pay tribute to the 6 million Americans who live with Alzheimer’s.
Dubbed “Patty’s Longest Day,” the event is an 18-hole disc golf tournament at the park’s scenic course.
It runs from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Innova Champion Discs and Throw Pink.
Cost is $30 and includes a swag bag and 50-50 raffle ticket.
The Alzheimer’s Association launched the “Longest Day” initiative with the hope of encouraging people across the world to come together and fight the disease. Annual campaigns are held each June.
According to the website: “The Longest Day is the day with the most light — the summer solstice. Thousands of participants from across the world come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through an activity of their choice.”
Nathaniel Sofranko, development manager for the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter, said about 150 groups in the state host a Longest Day fundraiser. The chapter covers the entire state, with the exception of the Philadelphia region.
“It’s wonderful because the event is truly about using the participant’s passions and hobbies to support the cause,” he said.
This year, in addition to disc golf, there will be a pinball tournament, car wash, bike ride and bake sale, among others.
“It’s nice to see the creativity and the interpretations that people bring,” Sofranko said.
Christopher Davidson, Amy’s husband, is a disc golf enthusiast and spurred the idea for the fundraiser.
“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s one of the fastest growing sports in America,” Amy Davidson said.
Much like hitting the links with golf clubs, disc golfers move between holes but instead try to sail their disc into a targeted basket.
Deer Lakes Park has a permanent 18-hole course.
Organizers hope to get 18 foursomes to compete in the tournament, which would bring in more than $2,100. There also will be raffles.
Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
According to the association’s website, the number of people afflicted with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow to 13 million by 2050.
Each year, the disease kills more people than breast and prostate cancers combined.
“I’m always trying to raise awareness,” Davidson said. “It’s incurable right now, but we’re working to find the first survivor.”
Patty Frost passed away in 2017. She will be remembered at the fundraiser for her dedication to her nursing career and her 40-year stint in the choir at First Reformed Presbyterian Church in Penn Hills.
This is Davidson’s second tribute held for her mother. In 2017, Davidson, a music teacher in the West Jefferson Hills School District, hosted a Longest Day concert. She also participates in the yearly Walk to End Alzheimer’s, this year scheduled for Oct. 8 at Station Square in Pittsburgh.
“I hope she would be proud,” Davidson said. “I think she’d enjoy seeing all the people come out to support this.”
