From her role as patron of the ALS Society of Alberta to faithfully participating in Calgary's annual fund-raiser, Betty's Run, Crewson's efforts have earned her another Gemini.
Crewson (The Santa Clause, Air Force One) was ecstatic to learn she's receiving the Gemini Humanitarian Award for her volunteer work to aid those with devastating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It includes a $10,000 charitable donation.
"I was completely shocked," said Crewson, who moved to Toronto last year with her family after a decade in San Francisco. "I'm thrilled for the ALS Society because it means a lot of great exposure for them. And of course the $10,000 cash donation, it's a big boost for ALS Alberta."
Crewson wanted to help those with the disease after her role as Rodriguez, a B.C. mother who fought for physician-assisted suicide as she lost her battle with the debilitating illness.
"It was a huge emotional impact. It's surprising in the business how few roles there are in your life that are as life-changing as Sue Rodriguez was," said Crewson, who receives her honour at the awards ceremony celebrating the best in Canadian television Nov. 4.
"I felt a tremendous need afterward to stay involved with the society and people going through what she went through."
After the TV movie, The Sue Rodriguez Story, aired in 1998, Crewson agreed to help Alberta's ALS society. She opened Edmonton's society doors three years ago and also does public relations work for the national body.
"I'm a fixture now. Absolutely, I'll stay involved," said Crewson, who is heading to Los Angeles next week to film The Clearing with Robert Redford and Helen Mirren.
The rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease after it killed the famed baseball player in 1941, wields a punishing assault on the body. Deterioration of nerve cells that control muscles leads to total paralysis.
The relentless erosion of the body is especially cruel since the mind is completely unaffected and thus the person is very much aware of the deterioration.
"Two to three Canadians die every day from ALS. It's a terrible disease," said Crewson, who will appear on the big screen next month alongside Tim Allen in The Santa Clause 2.
According to the ALS Society of Canada, the disease can strike anyone, most commonly surfacing between 55 and 65 years of age.
Statistics Canada figures show that between 1994 and 1996, twice as many people died of ALS than cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis combined.
Crewson has formed friendships over the years with ALS sufferers and their families. With all too rare exception Crewson knows that her friendships will be too brief with those fighting the devastating disease.
Within five years of diagnosis, 90% of those with ALS are dead. In a few cases the disease seems to plateau, such as famed physicist Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with the illness about 38 years ago.
"It's very emotional. You get involved with them and their families," said Crewson, who is in her 40s. "It is an inevitable thing (death). This is always in your mind when you're meeting these people and getting to know them, that this is the almost inevitable end of it."