Die hard Florida fans of “Days of Our Lives” and “General Hospital’ got to meet their faves at “Twilight Saga,” the yearly fundraiser for the charity animal Samantha’s Friends. The non-profit focuses on helping disabled individuals gain independence with the help of a service dog. Leading the charge was DAYS star, Martha Madison (Belle), as this charity is near and dear to her heart.
Hits Home
“It means something to me,” shared Madison. “They donate a dog to people with disabilities. My mother had MS since she was 30. The first year I came here, they donated a dog to a mother with MS with several kids. It just rang true to me. These things can really change a person’s total life, and I’ve watched how that works.”
Stars Show Support
DAYS co-stars Eric Martsolf (Brady), Patrika Darbo (Nancy), and Patsy Pease (Kimberly) were also in attendance. GH fans were excited to see Bryan Craig (Morgan), as well as his off-screen fiancé and former GH co-star, Kelly Thiebaud (ex-Britt).
Soap Hub caught up with all of the actors and discovered why this event was so important to them.
“It means helping a lot of people get a lot of dogs,” smiled Pease. The dogs flocked to her, and she rolled on the ground with them, proving their love was a two-way street.
Puppy Love
For Darbo, “Samantha’s Friends” is wonderful because it works in conjunction with Kids and Canines. ”
“They take kids who have a few problems,” Darbo told Soap Hub. “So, here are these kids, not in the best circumstances, getting a puppy. They learn responsibility, and they’re getting unconditional love in return.
“So, after they socialize them, they have to give them up to go into training,” Darbo added. Thinking about it caused the actress to get a bit teary. “These kids are amazing. They know if they don’t do their job, then the puppy suffers. And they won’t ever let that happen. The training is expensive.”
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Donate Those Dollars
Hence, the need to raise a lot of money! Fans enjoyed a Mimosa Buffet Brunch, a canine parade, and a live and silent auction, as well as the opportunity to take some snaps with their favorite stars.
Feel the Love
Craig summed it up for most of the actors.
“We love the people. We love Samantha and her parents and what the cause is for.”
Thiebaud added, “It’s like a family here. We love the fans who come.”
The charity was named for Samantha Bozzo, who suffered a brain aneurysm caused by an arteriovenous malformation when she was only 15 years old. She has become an inspiration to the fans, the actors, and anyone who knows about her.
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“It’s been around 15 years now. The word has spread, and it’s actually one of those events that we compete to come to,” confided Martsolf.
The event raised almost $22,000. To learn more about the charity, visit Samantha’s Friends.
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