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October 2, 2009

"Punky Brewster" goes purple

Posted: 02:26 PM ET

Last week, a "Find The Good" reader tipped me to the Alzheimer's Association "Who Wears Purple Best?" campaign, to raise awareness of the disease's growing prevalence.  Eight celebrity "Alzheimer's Champions" competed, but when the winner was announced today, it was no competition: Soleil Moon Frye took the title with more than 51% of votes cast.  Terrell Owens of the NFL's Buffalo Bills was second, followed by "Frasier" funnyman and longtime Alzheimer's activist David Hyde Pierce, Seth Rogen, Bradley Cooper, Melina Kanakaredes, Natalie Morales, and Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

One person develops this devastating disease every 70 seconds.  Kudos to Frye and the other celebs for helping spread the word.

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Jeff   October 2nd, 2009 3:38 pm ET

This article is worthless without pictures...

Fish   October 2nd, 2009 3:41 pm ET

It's too bad this worthy cause was only given barely a paragraph. I wonder if this were for breast cancer if it would have been three pages. I'm glad to see so many celebrities giving attention to such an awful disease and worthy cause. It'd be great if it were given more attention than it currently gets.

K to Jeff   October 2nd, 2009 4:00 pm ET

Jeff – click the link; you'll find all the pics.

Ray   October 2nd, 2009 4:03 pm ET

I agree with Fish. But this is a start. It's getting celebrities to rally around it so by tomorrow the pink ribbons will be forgotten and it will be all purple as America makes another shallow chase after "What's popular with Celebrities"

damian   October 2nd, 2009 4:16 pm ET

Punky lost me as a fan when she got a boob reduction

:o (

Mook   October 2nd, 2009 4:22 pm ET

Punky Brewster is a celebrity?

Kathy   October 2nd, 2009 4:30 pm ET

Damian, grow up. She got a breast reduction for health reasons. I personally think she looks great and is a happily married wife and mother. I also think this is a great cause. My mother suffers from the disease and it's very sad to watch and hard to live with.

M   October 2nd, 2009 4:34 pm ET

Seth Rogen looks weird skinny. Good for him, but he looks weird.

Jerry   October 2nd, 2009 4:36 pm ET

Thanks for bringing us this information. It's nice to see that celebs are getting behind more awareness of this devastating disease.

Yoja   October 2nd, 2009 4:46 pm ET

I'm just surprised that, with those names, I haven't heard of this before, and I'm a pretty avid reader of abcnews.com, cnn.com and ew.com (entertainment weekly).

Mike   October 2nd, 2009 4:47 pm ET

I've never heard of most of the "celebrities" mentioned in this story. And I'm not really sure what the story is referring to because it is so poorly written. Did you chop of a few other paragraphs by mistake?

oooooogggggg   October 2nd, 2009 4:54 pm ET

two words: BRETT FARVE

John   October 2nd, 2009 4:56 pm ET

Is this the cast of the next VH1 reality show?

Rob   October 2nd, 2009 5:04 pm ET

DAMN !! Punky is HOT!

Bridgette   October 2nd, 2009 5:09 pm ET

Seth Rogen looks like Screech Powers

bzmom6893   October 2nd, 2009 5:11 pm ET

@fish...you're right. I'm not taking anything away from breast cancer. It is a horrible disease. Unlike Alzheimer's, however, it can be beaten. Alzheimer's is fatal in 100% of the cases. I am a nurse manager of an Alzheimer's/ dementia unit. My father has pre-senile dementia and it is awful to watch. More awareness needs to be brought to this horrible disease. It is NOT a normal part of aging. It is devastating in a way that no other disease is; the body remains while the brain and personality go, leaving a shadow of the former person who eventually forgets everything and everyone. We need to push for research and new drugs in this field.

Libby French   October 2nd, 2009 5:16 pm ET

Damian,

I find your comment REALLY offensive. If you'd read any the interviews she did and if you read any medical literature you would realize that large breasts, particulary on a very petite person, cause a LOT of severe back pain. You are a man and don't have breasts and therefore would not realize this, but, you can read the articles. She GAINED me as a fan when she did it because she did it and explained her reasons so that she would provide inspiration or at least education for other women going through this issue. After knowing personally several women who have dealt with this issue either by doing something about or by enduring it, I have a lot of respect for Punky Brewster and for all the women living this.

Frank from Houston   October 2nd, 2009 5:23 pm ET

Mike.... What planet do you live on????? Is English your third language????

Dyann   October 2nd, 2009 5:36 pm ET

Pretty sure that's Elisabeth Hasselbeck's head on someone else's body. Not that she isn't a skinny woman, but the head looks completely pasted on. Just saying.

Joe in Pittsburgh, PA   October 2nd, 2009 6:18 pm ET

I agree, Libby. A number of women need to go through the reduction procedure due to the incredible back pain they suffer each day. Good for Ms. Frye. It's sad when people like Damian make all of us men look bad.

@Mike: Sound like you haven't turned on a television, watched a movie or viewed a sporting event in the last two decades.

@Dyann - I'm not quite sure if Elisabeth Hasselbeck's head is even attached to her own body on a regular basis. If it is, it doesn't seem to be working. However, I applaud her for supporting such a worthy cause.

Finally, agree with practically everyone that this issue deserves more coverage than CNN is offering. Amazing how much exposure a failed attempt to get the Olympics into Chicago of all places was a major story, but this...

Shannon   October 3rd, 2009 12:32 am ET

Now how about a "Who Wears Gray Best" contest to bring attention to brain cancer. I'm sure my 12-year-old son who died from in a year ago would be happy with some attention to this disease. I know I would.

Marky   October 3rd, 2009 1:27 am ET

I am so tired of the constant criticism of Elisabeth Hasselbeck just because she's openly conservative. Whether or not I agree with her, this is America, and she has a right to her opinion. She should not be insulted for it any more than any liberal should, therefore if she supports something such as Alzheimer's (which has affected her family), she shouldn't be treated rudely for doing so and neither should anyone else.

Phydeaux   October 3rd, 2009 9:14 am ET

Jeff! My goodness...if you want pictures just click on the link in the story to see them. Perhaps comic books are more your speed....lol!

Elaine   October 3rd, 2009 12:06 pm ET

There just not enough publicity about this relentless disease. Please spread the word . This is a very unglamorous disease and needs so much more support and attention then it gets. Please HELP!!

Shawn   October 3rd, 2009 4:42 pm ET

this is useless with the pictures.....is CNN losing it

rachel   October 3rd, 2009 7:37 pm ET

Damian, you aren't the kind of guy any worthwhile woman would want to appeal to, so maybe don't worry about it. Bore somebody else with your sexist bull.

Lady   October 3rd, 2009 11:25 pm ET

Hey fish the reason it only gets a paragraph is because it's GOOD news. Cnn only posts the bad news because they think that's what everyone wants to see. If it sells more that's all that counts.

ruffnutt   October 4th, 2009 12:27 am ET

if she would have stayed the same size instead of getting a reduction she would proably still be famous. maybe david letterman will give here a job.

Dec   October 4th, 2009 10:38 am ET

Where's the Brewster connection???

MeezY   October 4th, 2009 4:40 pm ET

Elizabeth Hasselbeck came in last..thats too bad

Denise   October 4th, 2009 5:19 pm ET

I know four people right now living w/Alheimer's and it's far more devistating in most ways than even cancer (and I know a number of people combatting different forms of cancer right now too). This disease deserves a great deal more attention from the public and researchers alike – it devistated not only the sufferer, but also the families involved. My heart goes out to all that are working through it.

JW   October 4th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Shawn, you find an article useless without pictures? What are you, in the 1st grade? Even tho the article is small it was brought to everyone's attention that read it today. Now go out and tell 2 friends who will tell 2 friends and on and on. Make it become known to more people through word of mouth.
Shannon I am so sorry for your loss. Campaign to get “Who wears Gray best” going. Write letters, email, make phone calls to politicians, celebrities, and companies with the power to get it all started. Good luck to you.

Pierre   October 4th, 2009 10:47 pm ET

Dec. - Soleil played Punky.
Also, is it just me or are most of those shirts either blue or white? You can't wear purple best when you're not wearing it. Or can you . . . hmm.

Lady Purple   October 5th, 2009 5:58 pm ET

Definitely Natalie Morales was soooooooooo much more purple!

TGreathouse   October 5th, 2009 10:19 pm ET

Pictures WOULD have been helpful. Are you kidding me?! So little info/storyline for such a MAJOR cause.Sad, my 10 yr old could have produced a better article.

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