June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, and CBS’ The Young and the Restless” has joined forces with the Alzheimer’s Association in a campaign to help end Alzheimer’s.
In videos released Friday, Eileen Davidson (Ashley Abbott) and Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman) joined numerous actors, entertainers, athletes and more as they held up white posterboards with black lettering that began with the phrase “For My” in reference to who close to them had been impacted by the disease. They also donned the official color of choice: purple
“I feel like my mother is with me all the time,” says Davidson of her parent who had dementia as she holds up a poster that says “For My Mom.” She adds, “Shortly after she passed, I found an old note from her. It says, ‘Hi,’ with a heart, ‘Mom.’ I keep it on my dresser & look at it every day.”
Ordway, who plays Davidson’s on-screen daughter on the CBS Daytime drama series, is also shown holding up a poster that says “For My Grammie.”
“It’s amazing just how many people can relate to this storyline who have been affected by Alzheimer’s,” says Ordway of the storyline that began on “Y&R” last fall in which the character Dina Mergeron (Marla Adams) learns she has Alzheimer’s disease and how her family rallies around to support her during her time of need. “People are very thankful that we’re telling this story because they can relate to it.”
As for Adams, she says, “Of all the roles I’ve ever done in my life this is the most important to me. Every day I hear from Alzheimer’s caregivers all over the world. It’s just amazing to give them comfort and let them know they’re not alone.”
Other stars joining in the campaign include “Entertainment Tonight” host Cameron Mathison (ex-Ryan Lavery, “All My Children”), New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandon Coleman, “The Bold Type’s” Katie Stevens, actress Judy Greer, Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, actor Peter Gallagher and pro-football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens, among others.
For more information, visit the goPurple campaign page at ALZ.org.
.@YandR_CBS’s @MelissaOrdway has faced Alzheimer’s on television and in real-life. Empowered in purple, she’s raising Alzheimer’s awareness in June. Join her! https://t.co/aRAWrvn3wO #EndAlzheimers #YR pic.twitter.com/SF5ITtCzsV
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 1, 2018
“I feel like my mother is with me all the time. Shortly after she passed, I found an old note from her. It says, ‘Hi,’ with a heart, ‘Mom.’ I keep it on my dresser & look at it every day.” @YandR_CBS star @eileen_davidson goes purple for her mom who had dementia. #EndAlzheimers pic.twitter.com/6lGj0HwbeR
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 1, 2018
June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, and I go purple for my Mom. Join me and the @alzassociation in the fight to #EndAlzheimers. pic.twitter.com/M8ODT5qFSf
— Eileen Davidson (@eileen_davidson) June 1, 2018
“Of all the roles I've ever done in my life this is the most important to me. Every day I hear from Alzheimer's caregivers all over the world. It's just amazing to give them comfort and let them know they're not alone.” @YandR_CBS's Marla Adams #EndAlzheimers pic.twitter.com/Yx5RSQ7qQg
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 1, 2018
“I think it's important for all of us to take action in the fight to #EndAlzheimers.” Join @petergallagher in going purple this June. pic.twitter.com/vdhUCj7HGJ
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 2, 2018
#TheBoldType’s @thekatiestevens goes purple to #EndAlzheimers in honor of her grandmother. RT in support of all families who have faced Alzheimer's. pic.twitter.com/6g7XN9z2F4
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 2, 2018
Turn Twitter purple today for the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's. Bradley went purple. Have you? RT to raise awareness. pic.twitter.com/YLs9gkadcL
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 1, 2018
Join #YR and the @alzassociation in going purple to #ENDALZ in honor of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. Together, we can make a difference. pic.twitter.com/uUz6vfR46q
— Young & The Restless (@YRInsider) June 1, 2018
.@Saints wide receiver @B_Cole16 tackles Alzheimer's by going purple to #EndAlzheimers in honor of his grandmother & great-grandmother. Join him! https://t.co/aRAWrv5sFg pic.twitter.com/bMleICmC4s
— Alzheimer's Association (@alzassociation) June 2, 2018