Beach Luau Raises Alzheimer's Awareness

The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce is set to hold a June 20 beach fundraiser at Sebastian Inlet State Park aimed at raising money and attention for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease. The event, billed as the “Longest Day • Longest Ride Alzheimer’s Charity Event and Locals Luau,” is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the chamber’s event listings. Admission is listed at $2 per car, and organizers are promoting a day built around surfing, games, music and raffles. The June 20 date places the event alongside “The Longest Day,” an Alzheimer’s Association fundraising campaign that encourages supporters to organize activities to raise money for care, support and research. The chamber and local participants described the Sebastian Inlet gathering in a June 2 interview on WFIT, where Nicholas Frank Sanzone of the Sebastian Inlet Chamber and Kevin O’Brien of the Florida Tech Surf Club discussed the event and its plans. (eventbrite.com) ### Why is this event being tied to Alzheimer’s fundraising? The Alzheimer’s Association says “The Longest Day” is a fundraising program in which participants choose an activity to “fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s.” The Sebastian-area event adopts that framework for a local beach gathering, with proceeds described by organizers as support for the fight against Alzheimer’s and for families affected by the disease. (wfit.org) WFIT’s June 2 program identified Sanzone as tourism director for the Sebastian Inlet Chamber of Commerce and O’Brien as president of the Florida Tech Surf Club, and said the two men outlined the event and festivities. The chamber’s own listings describe the luau as a community celebration meant to raise awareness and support for Alzheimer’s-affected families. (act.alz.org) ### What exactly is planned at Sebastian Inlet State Park? Sebastian Inlet State Park is the listed venue for the June 20 program, with the main schedule running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eventbrite and chamber postings describe a full-day format centered on surf culture and family activities. The chamber’s website says the lineup includes surfing, live music, family-friendly games, fishing fun and “nonstop summer energy.” Other event listings mention a surf contest for all ages, a fishing challenge, raffle prizes and a luau-style finale. (wfit.org) ### Who is organizing it? The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce is the named organizer on both Eventbrite and the chamber calendar. (eventbrite.com) WFIT’s June 2 segment also tied the event to local business and tourism promotion through Sanzone’s appearance, while the Florida Tech Surf Club is represented through O’Brien’s participation in the radio interview. (business.sebastianchamber.com) Indian River Guardian, citing the chamber’s announcement, said the group was inviting both residents and visitors to attend. That matches the chamber’s public event pages, which frame the day as open to the broader community rather than a members-only fundraiser. ### How much does it cost, and what should visitors know? (wfit.org) The chamber’s homepage lists the cost at $2 per car for the June 20 event at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Eventbrite labels tickets as free, which suggests the online registration page may function separately from the park-entry charge described by the chamber. That is an inference based on the two listings and is not explicitly explained in the postings. (indianriverguardian.com) Melbourne Beach, Florida, is the location given on the Eventbrite page for Sebastian Inlet State Park. The event is scheduled for a Saturday, making it a daylong public fundraiser at the start of summer. ### Where can people find the next update? June 20 is the next key date, with the fundraiser scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sebastian Inlet State Park. (eventbrite.com) The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce has posted event details on its website and registration pages, and WFIT has already aired a June 2 segment previewing the event with Sanzone and O’Brien. (wfit.org)