Publicist to the stars Nanci Ryder was diagnosed with ALS in August, coincidentally at the time of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge that took the internet by storm.
And a number of her closest friends, including actresses Reese Witherspoon and Renee Zellweger, are doing what they can to support her as she battles the neurodegenerative disease.
Reese, 38, and Renee, 45, put their star power to good use as they participated in the Los Angeles Walk To Defeat ALS on Sunday, along with many of Nanci’s other industry colleagues, clients and friends
Also pictured proudly sporting blue and pink Team Nanci T-shirts were Katharine McPhee, Rose McGowan, Brooke Burns, Emmy Rossum and Rosanna Arquette.
On Sunday, Reese Instagrammed two versions of the same photo with Nanci, 62.
She captioned one of them: ‘We are gonna beat this terrible disease! Nanci, you are a symbol of strength and beauty in this world . I (love) you and I am with you in this fight.’
The mother-of-three captioned the other: ‘I (love) this lady so much; she’s a symbol of incredible strength, grace, and beauty as she fights ALS.
‘Thanks to everyone who participated in #icebucketchallenge and supported the fight against this disease! (P.S. Remember it doesn’t end when all the ice buckets are put down.
‘It’s not too late to donate! And let’s keep reminding ourselves to #dogood, #dreambig, and #makechange!! Agree?!) Happy Sunday folks!’
Nancy’s Walk To Defeat ALS supporters call themselves the NBAA or ‘Nanci Beat the hell out of ALS Association’, Renee told The Hollywood Reporter.
Nanci participated in her first ever interview when she sat down with THR in the wake of her diagnosis, with Renee by her side.
In 1987, she co-founded BWR Public Relations with partners Paul Baker and Larry Winokur – from which she has stepped down due to her diagnosis.
‘I was the least likely to succeed,’ Nanci said. ‘I didn’t go to college. I got married at 19. I moved out here and had no job, but I found this and loved it.
‘And when you find the right thing, it’s amazing. It becomes an addiction.’
She is certainly a trooper, having beaten breast cancer in 2000.
‘Cancer was a breeze,’ Nanci said. ‘A breeze! “You have this disease. This is the treatment. Bye.”‘
Pumped: Brooke Burns, 36 (left), and Rose McGowan, 41, flashed peace signs as they posed together
Her friends and colleagues had plenty of heartfelt things to say about her, with Reese stating: ‘Nanci is like my second mother. We talk every single morning on the phone.
‘Her humour is very dry, and everybody has an impression of Nanci Ryder -my husband, me, my kids. She has an incredible attitude, a real joy for life.’
Renee chimed in: ‘She’s the first one to cry if the people close to her are being subjected to cruelty or difficulty of any kind, and she’s the first to cry tears of joy when they have success or happiness. The people around her circle tightly.’
Source: Original Article: Daily Mail
Reese Witherspoon and Renee Zellweger lead charity walk
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