In recognition of Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, a “Marsh Harbor High Tide Moonlight Mingle” raised a grand total of $3,426 to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter.

Featuring music, dancing, food and drink, the event was held at the Whitemarsh Island home of Donald and Carole Arpin. The waterfront estate is located on Turner’s Creek in the Marsh Harbor community.

Festivities included an appearance by Tommy Arpin to honor his mother, Carole, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Arpin is a participant in the 2018 Dancing Stars of Coastal Georgia and offered a sneak peek of the dance he will perform at the annual Alzheimer’s fundraiser in May. Last year, Dancing Stars events generated more than $2.6 million across the state, including nearly $400,000 at the Savannah event.

Guests at Moonlight Mingle were encouraged to support the Alzheimer’s Association with a donation in honor of Carole Arpin. Music was provided by the Marshall Brothers Band featuring Stewart Marshall (Stewart & Winfield, Junkyard Angel) as one of the Low Country Rock five-piece band’s three vocalists and guitarists.

“My parents, who have been married for nearly 60 years, moved to Savannah in 1978 to expand the family’s moving and storage business, and both have been actively involved in the community ever since," said Tommy Arpin. “Mother was on the Savannah Film Commission and helped bring the ‘Forrest Gump’ movie to Savannah. She played a big part in the St. Mary’s Home fundraisers as well as her children’s school fundraisers. She believes in giving back to the church and other worthy causes. That’s one reason we decided to do this fundraiser to honor her and help find a cure for this disease that is slowly taking her from us.”

More than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and, every 66 seconds, someone is diagnosed with the disease. Two-thirds of them are women. It is the only disease among the top 10 causes of death in the United States that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.

The fundraiser also showcased the Arpin home, which is listed for sale. The brick home with four bedrooms and three full and three half bathrooms is located on Turner’s Creek at 8 Marsh Harbor Drive. It features sweeping views of the marsh and river, along with a library, two fireplaces, a stately dining room, gourmet kitchen, split floor plan and exquisite custom woodwork.

“This house was built for entertaining,” said Tommy Arpin. “My parents hosted annual Christmas parties there for many years, and my brothers and I often entertained our friends in the game room or out on the dock. We made many good memories in this house, and hopefully, someone else will enjoy this house as much as we did.”