Remember Alex Brown: Emma Roberts and Justin Bieber join 'Extreme Makeover Home Edition' in support of safe driving
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Starlet Emma Roberts ditched the awards show glam and joined Justin Bieber and NASCAR stars Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle to appear on ABC Sunday's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" in honor of the Remember Alex Brown Foundation, a nonprofit organized after 17-year-old Alexandra Brown rolled her pickup truck and died on her way to school. She was texting and driving.After being alerted that her daughter hadn't made it to school, Alex's mother Jeannie drove out to find the wreck of the truck. "Although no other vehicles were involved, Alex was not alone," she writes on the Foundation's official website. "The cell phone on which she had sent and receive over 10,000 text messages in the weeks preceding her accident was with her."
Volunteers arrived at the Brown home in Lubbock, TX to rebuild their home - now occupied by the remaining three family members, Jeanne, Johnny Mac, and Alex's 12-year-old sister Katrina a year after Alex's death.
"If Alex was here and seeing all this she would be so excited for us," Katrina told reporters. "She'd be like, 'I'm so glad y'all are getting this! Y'all are doing good. Keep going.'"
The Browns decided to start the Remember Alex Brown Foundation the day she died. "I chose to do it that day at the hospital," her father says. "We have to put the [wrecked] truck on a trailer and we have to go to schools and tell people about the dangers of texting and driving."
"Extreme Makeover" asked Roberts to join in for two reasons. "She's an incredible young actress," said Ty Pennington, "and she's a teen so she understands how big of an epidemic texting and driving is."
"After hearing Alex's story I just think texting and driving is really a problem," Roberts says. "To hear that this happened to someone so young -- that really kind of was a little bit of a wake-up call. I have a nine year old sister and to think of her losing me, or me losing her -- I can't even comprehend that."
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Photo/Video credit: ABC
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Extreme Makeover Home Ed. A great show tonight. RAB Spread it hear in Canada.Took the pledge myself.
simple shame the brown family . the mother , and father . nothing but shame for them ... taking advantage of there daughther's loss , and making a big deal with the family , not only the family , but everone involved .. It's bad to lose a Loved one Yes , But taking advantage like they 3 did , not something I would be Proud Of!!! Shame for the Family , and for Alex Peace be with you ... You Are Now In A Better Place , And God Bless You Alex Brown... name withheld hopefully...
As the Parents of five kids, My wife and I were very moved by Alex Browns story. We hope she touches all kids that might be tempted to text and drive, so no other parents have to suffer the loss of a child. Great job "Extreme Makeover"
One thing not being pointed out, she apparently was not wearing her seat belt as evidenced by the windshield damage. I wish the family would include the message to wear seat belts. It's the law in California, and I can't believe how many states people don't wear their seat belts. I see this all the time while typing medical reports from all around the US.
My prays go out to brown family. Keep the memories of alex with you and always know she is up above smiling on how you keep her memory alive. just remember one day you will see her again. God bless!!!!!
my thoughts and prayers go out to the brown family, and i am taking the pledge to not text and drive here in california. : )
Im glad for what you guys are doing about stoping diving and texting
i am taking the pledge, and being in sales it is very hard not to text and drive, but I don't and nothing is worth your life or someone else's. And for the person who stated that these 3 took advantage of this girls death, you should be ashamed of yourself. They are not, they are trying to make it so no one has to ever feel this pain they are feeling. God bless them and what they are doing.
To dilho, first learn how to spell and write. Second, I can't believe you would say that! Shame on the parents?! That's absolutely horrible of you to say. They're trying to get their message across and spread the word to more people, whiling having their daughters name remembered. Who wouldn't want their loved one remembered?!
Shame on you, I commend them. At least they're potentially saving lives. Who cares if they gained a house out of it, they deserve it anyway.
I'm so happy for you guys and I hope all goes well in your new house I know all of you are going to make a huge difference in this world you have already made a huge difference in my life R A B