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Each year many of the residents of Meadowcrest Apartments in Luverne participate in the Alzheimer’s Association’s “The Longest Day” fundraiser.

Residents spend the months leading up to the event soliciting donations online, in person and with jars placed around town.

This year, Meadowcrest manager Peggy Fowler initially canceled their annual Rock-a-Thon event, originally scheduled for Saturday, June 8, due to weather.

The Rock-a-Thon is so named because rocking chairs are set up under the veranda at the apartment complex and occupied by residents and other attendees accompanied by food and music.

A “smaller-scale” event was instead held on Thursday, June 20, although every rocking chair was filled and nearly every hot dog eaten.

Largely composed of residents and family members, this year’s Rock-a-Thon was a celebration of the group’s redoubled fundraising efforts.

Fowler challenged the residents to raise their fundraising goals this year and the efforts paid off.

The group raised, in total, $12,820, topping the state of Alabama’s 122 “Longest Day” participants for 2019.

Alzheimer’s Association representative and Luverne native Jessica Miller attended the Rock-a-Thon and informed residents of their feat when the total was announced.

Residents David Duckworth and Bernice Sykes topped the list of individual donations gathered for the year, raising $1939.96 and $1925.55 respectively.

According to Fowler, 5 residents raised over $194.76, 3 raised over $500 and $860.61 worth of donations came from jars placed around Luverne.

$670 came from online donations.

According to Fowler, several residents who are unable to travel easily help others solicit donations.

Miller thanked residents for their participation during Rock-a-Thon and explained the various efforts Alzheimer’s Association makes to combat the disease including lobbying and promoting and helping to fund research.

The 2019 Rock-a-Thon was dedicated to the memory of Peggy Fowlers’ husband, Scott Fowler, who passed away earlier this year.

Scott, a musician, played music at each year’s event, and one of his albums was played near the end of this year

“I think he would be proud,” Peggy Fowler said.

Bush’s Bar-B-Que donated food for Rock-a-Thon alongside Ramey’s, and Pepsi donated sodas to the cause.

During the event a raffle was also sporadically held to give away items donated by local businesses.