Renee Zellweger supports publicist at ALS charity event

RENEE ZELLWEGER showed her support for publicist NANCI RYDER at a star-studded charity fundraiser for ALS in California on Monday night (20Apr15).
The Jerry Maguire star attended the One Starry Night event benefiting the ALS Association, an organisation dedicated to finding a treatment and cure for the degenerative disorder, which is also known as motor neurone disease.
Zellweger has become an avid supporter of the charity since Ryder was diagnosed with the condition nine months ago, and told the crowd that her dear friend is not letting ALS diminish her quality of life.
The actress said, “As a person who loves someone who is living with ALS, I’m happy to be here among so many of you who understand what that diagnosis means. We’ve learned that living with ALS does not mean being defined by the disease. She’s (Ryder) a beautiful example of that. Her spirit is as vivacious as ever.”
Special awards were handed out throughout the course of the night, including the Spirit Award, which was given to Still Alice co-writers/co-directors Wash Westmoreland and his husband Richard Glatzer, who passed away last month (Mar15) after a battle with ALS.
In addition, the Spotlight Award was presented to the filmmakers of Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything for raising awareness of ALS.
Guests at the Pasadena Playhouse were also treated to performances by Melissa Manchester, Petula Clark, Micky Dolenz, Norm Lewis, and actors George Newbern and Ed Asner, who read an excerpt from best-selling book Tuesdays with Morrie.
The sold-out event raised more than $200,000 (£125,000) for the ALS Association.