The Bold And The Beautiful’s Jennifer Gareis Makes A Big Move For Breast Cancer Awareness

The character of Katie is helping The Bold and the Beautiful tell an important tale about kidney transplants and living donors. In real-life, Katie’s TV sister, Jennifer Gareis, is also sending out an important health message in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

Jennifer Gareis (Donna) recently shared on social media that she was having a mammogram. “This could be one of my most important #selfies ever… changing into my gown before my #annual #mammogram.

Did you know #October is #breastcancerawarenessmont? #mammogramssavelives And hey they give you a pretty pink robe to wear while you do it!! Turns out I did have #mondaymotivation today!”

Supportive pals chimed in with responses in the comments section of Gareis’ post. “Way to go! So Important and can make all the difference.” wrote @hollywoodandbeyondshow.

Gareis wasn’t playing Donna when BB did a breast cancer storyline in the show’s first few years. But it was actually Donna’s TV mom, Beth (Nancy Burnett), who was diagnosed with breast cancer and the character underwent a mastectomy.

Beth recovered and later moved to Paris with her husband Steven (then, Robert Pine) after Stephanie (Susan Flannery) arranged for him to take a job overseas for Spencer Publications.

Beth’s breast cancer story was written by BB creator William J. Bell, who had also told the tale on The Young and the Restless with the character of Jennifer Brooks (Dorothy Green).

“We did it for several reasons,” Bell said when he was interviewed for the 1994 TV special 50 Years Of Soaps, which aired on CBS. “There was a need to disseminate information about [breast cancer] as there was before then, and there has been since. The response has always enormous from an audience. They’re grateful. You remind them when they need to be reminded.”

Check out Gareis’ full Instagram post below. The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Check local listings for air times.