Each year on the summer solstice, the day with the most light, thousands of Alzheimer's Association supporters worldwide participate in the Longest Day event, which is designed to "fight the darkness" of Alzheimer's disease through a fundraising activity of participants' choice.

Locally, Morgantown resident Lynn Cronomiz is participating in the Longest Day fundraiser in honor of her mother, Carol, who passed away from the disease in 2017.

Cronomiz is planning a square dance at the Holiday Inn, 6170 Morgantown Road, Morgantown, on Friday, June 24, from 6:45 to 9 p.m., followed by an afterparty at the Hollywood Casino, 6021 Morgantown Road, Morgantown, from 9 to 11 p.m. The community is welcome to participate in both events.

Cronomiz explained that the square dancing will take place in the conference room at the Holiday Inn, where a professional caller will guide dancers of all skill levels. A donation fee will be charged, with separate prices for individuals and couples.

"We will have a caller, Dan Koft, and he is donating his time to our event," said Cronomiz. "He will bring music and teach everybody how to square dance. He uses different songs and moves like the do-si-do, which is where (dancers) face each other, go around each other's back and return (to their original positions)." An element of country line dancing will also be included.

Cronomiz chose a square dance as a fundraiser because both of her parents enjoyed the activity. "When you plan the Longest Day, it is more personal than the Alzheimer's Walk," she explained. "The activity should remind you of the person you may have lost or who has Alzheimer's. My parents used to love to (square dance), and we thought it would be fun to get everyone together to reminisce about it."

When her mother had Alzheimer's disease, Cronomiz noticed that visits from therapy dogs brought her mother the most joy. After her mother's death, Lynn trained a therapy dog of her own named Chester, and now the pair visits nursing homes and behavioral health hospitals. Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS) therapy dogs will be on hand for people to visit with at the square dance.

To read an article about Chester and Cronomiz that appeared in the Community Courier, visit townlively.com/therapy-dog-provides-comfort-and-caring.

The square dance is being sponsored by Tel Hai Retirement Community, Penske Corporation and Visiting Angels.

Those who attend the square dance will be given a wristband for admittance to the afterparty, where they will receive appetizers and two complimentary beverages. "Around 10 or 10:30 p.m., the casino will present us with a check for the donations they gathered from patron vouchers," said Cronomiz.

Cronomiz has set a personal fundraising goal of $4,000. "Last year I made a cookbook of my mother's recipes and made $3,000 from that," she said, noting that all proceeds are donated directly to the Alzheimer's Association.

For more information about the fundraiser, email lccronomiz@gmail.com, visit http://act.alz.org/goto/DoSiDo or search for the "Do-Si-Do Away Alzheimer's Disease" event page on Facebook.