Asharoken – About two dozen Long Islanders dove into the choppy waters of Northport Bay today to support research for Alzheimer’s disease.

It was the seventh annual Distant Memories Swim, founded by Bryan Proctor, 26, of Northport. Proctor’s grandfather, Albert Rivoire, passed away last September after living for six years with the disease.

The counter-current swim from Asharoken to Knollwood Beach was sponsored by the Long Island chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Last year, the event raised $22,000 to help raise awareness and fund research.