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Community Corner

Annual Alzheimer's Association Comedy Night in Manchester Raises Cash, Awareness

There are 70,000 people in Connecticut who suffer from Alzheimer's.

The Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter held its Second Annual Comedy Night fundraiser at the Hartford Funny Bone comedy club in Manchester Wednesday, May 18.

Senior Director of Communications Christianna Kovel said attendance at the show was nearly double than last year’s fundraiser, with approximately 150 tickets sold. Besides the $25 ticket price, the association raised money through raffle ticket sales. Many area businesses, including Manchester Pizza, Burtons Grill, Moe's Southwest Grill, the Hartford Restaurant Group (Agave', Wood N' Tap), donated the prizes.

The comedians for the evening, Jay Sutay, South Windsor’s own 'Stand-up Pediatrician,' and Boston’s Tom Dustin, entertained courtesy of Atria Senior Living Group (Atria Greenridge Place and Atria Hamilton Heights), the event’s sponsor.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Alzheimer’s Association Executive Director Trish Clark reported that there are 70,000 people in Connecticut who suffer from Alzheimer’s, with 5.3 million nationwide. Clark said the money raised from the night’s event will go toward both research and services.

“Our mission is to find a cure for this disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is the worldwide, non-profit leader in funding research. And until we find a cure, we’re here to care,” explained Clark.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to their Web site, the Alzheimer’s Association offers its communities 24/7 multilingual Helpline Support, Family Training Seminars, Care Consultation, Safe Return Training, Support Groups and Educational Programs for both healthcare professionals and caregivers.

Also on hand was the association's Patty O’Brian, who organized the event. She was greeted on stage with a rousing round of applause.

“Patty lives and breathes our mission,” Clark told the audience.

While on stage, O’Brian thanked the members of the audience - many of whom have attended a number of other Alzheimer’s fundraisers - for their support and promoted the upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which takes place in October.

“The Walk raised $164,000 last year,” said O’Brian, who hopes to beat that number this year.

Walks are scheduled to take place in Enfield, Waterford, Hartford, New Haven and Norwalk (watch for further details on Patch.)

O’Brien then introduced the night’s host, Jerry Kristafer, the Big D Morning Show host from 102.9 DRC FM, who called raffle winners and primed the audience for the comedians by providing some laughs of his own.

For more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, visit www.alz.org. The 24-hour Helpline number is 1-800-272-3900.

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