ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE--On Friday, September 27, 2013, a star cast will
take the stage for a special ensemble reading of Act 1 of Surviving Grace, an
original play penned by comedy writer Trish Vradenburg (“Designing Women,”
“Family Ties,” “Kate and Allie”), and co-founder of USAgainstAlzheimer’s, a national
advocacy organization committed to stopping Alzheimer’s by 2020. Based on
Trish’s experience as a caregiver to her mother who died of Alzheimer's in
1992, Surviving Grace is a brutally honest, irreverent and moving story – laced
with humor – that sheds light on the emotional ups and downs that 15.4 million
Alzheimer’s caregivers in the U.S. go through each day.
The play will arrive in San
Diego following a star-studded reading earlier in the week in Los Angeles, and
has also been produced at The Kennedy Center, off-Broadway, cross-country and
in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The first celebrity reading was at The Phillips
Collection in Washington, DC last fall.
The performance will take
place at Shiley Theatre on the campus of the University of San Diego and boasts
a legendary cast including local philanthropist Darlene Shiley, Helen Reddy,
Diane Rehm, Marilu Henner, Susan Taylor, Robert Foxworth and Jim Laslavic.
The San Diego production is
being presented by USAgainstAlzheimer’s, which is mobilizing individual,
political, business and civic leaders to achieve the goal of ending Alzheimer’s
by 2020, and B.A.B.E.S “Beating Alzheimer’s By Embracing Science,” an
organization dedicated to harnessing the power of women to beat Alzheimer’s by
raising funds to support the most promising Alzheimer's research.
The evening will begin with
a reception at 6 p.m., followed by the play reading at 6:45 p.m., and dinner
with the cast at 8:30 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance or to learn more
about sponsorship options, please visit: www.survivinggrace.org/show/sandiego.
“I thought my mom was
invincible, but she was no match for Alzheimer’s. I watched helplessly as her
mind, her dignity, and finally her body vanished into the unforgiving chasm of
Alzheimer's,” said Trish Vradenburg. “So why a serious play with a large dose
of humor? Because that's how I survive life – if you don't laugh, you'll cry.
We have to bring this disease out of the shadows and into the spotlight; that
is why I wrote Surviving Grace and why I'm excited to be sharing it during this
special event.”
Alzheimer’s affects one in
three seniors, and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
The number of Americans with the disease is projected to triple by 2050 – from
5.4 million to nearly 16 million – unless we find a treatment or cure, and ten
percent of victims are between the ages of 40 and 65.
“Through my past
experiences as a caregiver for my mother, uncle and aunt with Alzheimer's, I’ve
seen firsthand that Alzheimer’s is a disease that will stop at nothing to take
things – moments, memories and loved ones – away,” said Darlene Shiley.
“However, Alzheimer's advocates remain driven by the knowledge that with the
proper resources we can stop this disease and spare future generations from it.”
Alzheimer’s also has a
disproportionate impact on women, who represent nearly two-thirds of Americans
with the disease and 70 percent of caregivers.
“As a woman, I am twice as
likely as a man to get Alzheimer’s in my lifetime, and two to three times as
likely to act as a caregiver to a family member with the disease,” said Helen
Reddy. “Anyone who cares about women’s rights should care about finding a cure
for Alzheimer’s – which is why I am so excited to be a part of this special
production of Surviving Grace.”
Jamie Tyrone, RN, founder
and CEO of B.A.B.E.S., knows all too well the devastating effects of
Alzheimer’s on individuals and family members. She also knows her genetic
status, which puts her at a 91 percent lifetime risk of getting Alzheimer's
disease.
"I am so afraid of
this disease, not for me, but for my family, who may become caregivers in the
future. We as a family have been down
this road before, and I have committed to spend the rest of my life fighting
this insidious disease,” Tyrone said, noting that B.A.B.E.S. concentrates on
creating joyful and meaningful fundraisers to support the most promising
research to combat the enemy called Alzheimer's.
In order to spur action
around the growing concern of the impacts of Alzheimer’s on women,
USAgainstAlzheimer’s recently launched WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s – the first
national network of women in leadership positions working to speed the pace of
research and build momentum to end Alzheimer’s disease – during its inaugural
summit in Washington D.C. The network includes activists, lawmakers,
philanthropists and other outspoken women’s advocates who are enraged and
engaged in the mission to meet the national goal of finding a treatment or cure
for the disease by 2025.
“Alzheimer's takes a huge
emotional, physical, and financial toll not only patients, but also on families
and caregivers,” added Marilu Henner. “We need to do all that we can to amplify
the voices of those impacted by Alzheimer's, which is why I'm honored to be a
part of Surviving Grace."
Researchers believe that it
is possible to stop Alzheimer’s within the decade if the right resources are
appropriately applied – just as we did for HIV/AIDS in the 1990s. In support of
this goal, proceeds from the Surviving Grace San Diego production will benefit
the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of
California, San Diego and WomenAgainstAlzheimer’s.
###
USAgainstAlzheimer’s is a related 501(c)(4) national
advocacy campaign and advocacy network committed to stopping Alzheimer’s by
2020. An independent non-profit organization working in partnership with the
Alzheimer’s community, USAgainstAlzheimer’s works to stop the disease by
advancing policies that support research for a cure. For more information about
USAgainstAlzheimer’s, visit www.usagainstalzheimers.org.
B.A.B.E.S. “Beating Alzheimer’s by Embracing
Science” is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to
raising funds to support the most promising Alzheimer’s disease (AD)
research. Because women are
disproportionately affected by AD, the grassroots organization aims to capture
the creative synergy of women in helping fine a cure. For more information
about B.A.B.E.S, visit www.alzbabes.org.
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