Alzheimer's Association launches new Champions campaign
The Alzheimer’s Association has kicked off its Champions Consumer Campaign, the first national effort to dispel public misperceptions and move people to take action in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to enlist 5 million Champions – at least one for each person living with Alzheimer’s in the United States.
Stars share their stories
The new campaign features a diverse and committed group of stars sharing personal stories and lending their faces to a motivating portrait exhibit as Champions for Alzheimer’s disease.
David Hyde Pierce, Lea Thompson, Dick Van Dyke, Vivica A. Fox, Olympia Dukakis, Peter Gallagher, Victor Garber and Rikki Lake, among others, are urging Americans to learn about the disease and get involved in fighting it.
A launch event in New York City unveiled the portrait exhibit featuring the Champion celebrities wearing campaign T-shirts.
New campaign ads
National magazines, including Time, Ebony, Prevention and O, are running provocative print ads depicting an image that represents the struggle someone with Alzheimer's – and their loved ones – experiences as the disease progresses.
The ads aim to overcome perceptions that Alzheimer's is just about old people becoming forgetful, as research shows that this misperception fuels complacency. The ad copy uses key words - Voice, Move and Open – to ask Americans to take action and represent people who are affected by Alzheimer’s. Web ads are running on sites such as CNN, MSNBC and AOL.
Survey: Americans have misperceptions about Alzheimer’s
In connection with the new campaign, the Alzheimer's Association released results of a new survey. It shows most Americans don't understand the disease, don't think about it and most don't believe they will have to deal with it personally.
• Nearly half of Americans say they know someone with Alzheimer's disease, but 94 percent say they feel they don't know much about the disease itself.
• Only two out of 10 people think it's likely they might get Alzheimer's themselves.
• Americans don’t realize that Alzheimer’s disease can strike as young as age 30.
• The majority of the population does not realize Alzheimer’s is fatal.
Learn more about the survey results >>
Become a Champion
With no cure and no survivors, Americans need to act now to fight Alzheimer’s. Join the campaign by becoming an Alzheimer Champion. Sign up at the campaign Web site, actionalz.org. The site also features other ways to get involved, including writing Congress and hosting your own event.
Go to campaign Web site: www.actionalz.org
Launch party photo gallery
The Champions Consumer Campaign kicked off with a launch event in New York City featuring our celebrity Champions and other notable attendees.
The celebrity photo exhibit displayed at the Champions Consumer Campaign launch event in New York City April 16. |
 |
John Mahoney, David Hyde Pierce and Dustin Hoffman. |
(l-r) John Mahoney, early-onset representative Patty Smith, David Hyde Pierce, Dustin Hoffman and Association CEO Harry Johns. |
|
Victor Garber with chapter representives. |
(l-r) Victor Garber, David Hyde Pierce, Marin Mazzie, Montego Glover, John Mahoney and Jason Danieley. |
|
 Alzheimer therapy dog and Westminster Kennel Club Best in Show winner Diamond Jim. |
