This Friday, the Bridge Club of Atlanta in Sandy Springs and bridge clubs across the country are hosting The Longest Day, in an effort to help raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Alzheimer’s has affected a lot of people close to the players,” said club Owner Sam Marks. “It is a very important charity.”
Marks, who opened the club in July, said he is also personally affected because his mother suffers from Alzheimer’s, which causes dementia, or a loss of brain function.
“It is a horrible disease,” he said. “I want to raise funds and create awareness of both bridge and Alzheimer’s.”
He said the event will be a good “joining of efforts” because bridge is one form of mental exercise to help delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.
“It helps you stay healthy longer,” Marks said.
The Longest Day will consist of four games — at 9:30 a.m., noon, 4 and 6 p.m.
“$1 from each entry fee goes to Alzheimer’s and players can get people to sponsor them or contribute more money,” Marks said.
He said he hopes the Longest Day generates about $300, and is estimating about 120 players throughout the day. No specific skill level is required.
“It’s really neat people are going to be playing bridge all across the country on the same day,” Marks said.
Club member Helen Browdy plays bridge four or five times a week, and said she had a taste of Alzheimer’s when her mother developed dementia before death. Browdy also said she believes the mental exercise is healthy for the mind, loves the challenge of bridge and is looking forward to playing for a full day.
“I’m using my brain every day. It’s a wonderful game and frustrating,” she said. “I think the Longest Day is a wonderful thing. How often do you get to play all day long?”

If you go:

o What: The Longest Day
o When: Friday starting at 9:30 a.m.
o Where: Bridge Club of Atlanta, 4920 Roswell Road, Unit/Suite 33, Sandy Springs
o Cost: $10 for games at 9:30 a.m., 4 and 6 p.m., and $7 for noon game
o Information: https://thelongestday.alz.org/home/about or http://www.bridgeclubatlanta.com

Beth Walsh, a 23-year-old account executive for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, recently was named to the University of West Georgia Alumni Association’s first “30 under 30” list of 2013. The alumni association nominated Walsh because she made a “documentable impact” in her chosen field “while also demonstrating dedication to the University of West Georgia, and its mission of teaching, research and service,” according to a release from the university. Walsh, a Douglasville resident, graduated in the summer of 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and began her current position in December. “In college I worked with the Athletic Department the whole time…I spoke to the Atlanta Dream in April…I began interning then got a job in sales,” Walsh said. Walsh started out as an inside sales representative, but was promoted after eight months to her current position at the end of the 2012 season. She was ranked by the WNBA in the top 20 of the league in group sales and doubled her goal from her first year. “It felt good to be the newbie and doing so well…I didn’t think I would do so well. I don’t like to sell and ask people for money, but I believe in the WNBA,” Walsh said. Living in Arizona for part of her childhood, Walsh said she saw her first WNBA game there and decided she wanted to play basketball. As a senior at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Walsh had to undergo knee surgery which prompted her to pursue sports medicine for a short period of time, though she added, “It wasn’t for me so I changed to sports management.” In her position, Walsh gets to combine her passion for sports with her love for working with youth as she helps to organize assembly programs at elementary and middle schools. “We put on an hourlong program to teach the kids to get fit and be healthy…We work with the different teams to promote themselves and do fundraisers,” said Walsh. “I’ve done a lot of good things that I’m definitely proud of, but that’s not the end for me.”