Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens will be the recipient of an award honoring his off the field exploits as he will be an honored guest of the Alzheimer's Association at their sixth annual gala in Washington D.C. Wednesday evening.
Owens will be receiving the Young Champions Award, which honors a young professional for their commitment to the Alzheimer's cause through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy.
Through his personal efforts, the recipient of the award provides leadership and inspiration to others in the fight against Alzheimer's. Owens is the first ever recipient of the Young Champions Award.
From the early days of Owens' career, the playmaking wide receiver has been an advocate for the fight against Alzheimer's. Owens has testified before Senate subcommittees to increase federal funding for Alzheimer's research. He has used his exploits on the field for fundraising, served as Celebrity chair for annual Memory Walks to raise money for research and been a spokesman for the Alzheimer's Association Champion awareness campaign.
"Alzheimer's is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States," said Owens. "Alzheimer's has affected my own family, so I understand first-hand the impact of this disease. I am proud to support the Alzheimer's Association as they educate people on the realities of Alzheimer's disease so we can inspire enough support to stop it."
Owens' maternal grandmother, Alice Black, was afflicted with the disease so the cause is very personal for the six-time Pro Bowl receiver.
He has most recently offered to help create greater awareness about the disease through the Alzheimer's Association Champions campaign, which is calling on five million Americans – one for every person living with the disease – to become a Champion and join the cause at http://www.actionalz.org/
