RD s p e c i a l

When a Friend Gets Sick

ariska hargitay, who plays

M
The most important thing for a
a tough but beautiful detec- woman whose friend is battling the
tive on NBC’s Law & Order, disease, says Hargitay, is just to be
recently lost childhood friend there. “Don’t be afraid of what to do
Annette Condon Tauber to breast and what to say,” she says.
cancer. “It was devastating,” says In memory of Ann, Hargitay
the actress, 43. “Ann defined so signed on as the 2007 ambassador
much of who I am. She was my for Lee National Denim Day, an
champion and crusader and the Entertainment Industry Foundation
most loyal friend.” program that raises money for
Ann was diagnosed breast cancer research. Participating
in 2003, when she workplaces let employees wear
was 38, shortly “Don’t jeans on October 5 for a $5
after the birth be afraid donation. “It’s a concrete
of her fourth way for everyone to feel
daughter.
of what like they’re making a dif-
Hoping for a to do and ference,” says the Emmy-
miracle and what to winning actress.
not wanting say.” Hargitay recently had
to burden her her second mammogram,
friends, she never and she urges women
told them she was to convince their
sick. “I understand friends, mothers
her not wanting to and sisters to do
share,” Hargitay says. the same. “Drag
“And as far as I’m them by the hair
concerned, she did if you have to,”
beat the disease. she says. “Early
Doctors gave her two detection is
years, and she lived the answer to
two more because she treating it
loved those girls and her and being able
husband so much.” to say, Phew,
By late 2005, the can- I caught it
cer had spread to Ann’s in time.”
JIM WRIGHT

liver in a golf-ball-size For info, visit

mass. She passed away denimday.com.
in May 2007. CYNTHIA DERMODY

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