It’s been four years since the tragic and untimely death of then-20-year-old Cameron Boyce, who died in July 2019 following a fatal seizure related to his epilepsy. Since then, his family has set up The Cameron Boyce Foundation in his honor to support epilepsy awareness with more educational resources and research funding for neurological disorders.
This June will mark the foundation’s second annual “CAM FOR A CAUSE” gala, where actor and activist Yara Shahidi will receive the first Cameron Boyce Youth Empowerment Award.
Boyce’s sister will present the award to Shahidi — who most recently played “Tinker Bell” in Peter Pan & Wendy — at the upcoming gala. According to the foundation, the award is for “an extraordinary young person who is dedicated to making a difference in the world.”
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the foundation is said to be shining a light on Shahidi’s “activism surrounding STEM awareness, women’s rights, civil rights, and her countless acts of kindness toward others,” Good Morning America reported.
Boyce is known best for starring as “Luke” in Disney Channel’s Jessie, as “Carlos” in Disney Channel’s Descendants movies, and alongside Kiefer Sutherland in Mirrors. Boyce also worked with Shia LaBeouf in Eagle Eye and Adam Sandler in Grown Ups/Grown Ups 2. Other credits include CBS’ Code Black and Disney Channel’s Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything. His last credits included a debut in the HBO series, Mrs. Fletcher and as the lead in the indie film RUNT.
Boyce passed from what is known as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 1 in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP yearly.
Per the foundation’s website, Boyce was a humanitarian “extraordinary beyond measure” who used his voice to enact change through his global reach and social following.
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In a statement obtained by GMA, the 23-year-old Shahidi expressed her gratitude for the honor.
“It is such an honor to be the recipient of the first Youth Empowerment Award,” Shahidi said. “I met Cameron when we were 5 years old, and even then, his talent, his fearlessness and his belief in the power of his peers was evident.”
“It means so much to be recognized for my advocacy and the work I continue to do to effect change,” her statement continued.
Yara Shahidi on the passing of Cameron Boyce 💔💔 he was so loved pic.twitter.com/agpzUBAorO
— A. (@MakeItShady) July 7, 2019
“I’m grateful to my friends and family at The Cameron Boyce Foundation for thinking of me, as I will always be inspired and activated by their incredible work in the fight to end epilepsy.”
The gala will be held June 1 in Los Angeles, featuring special performances, presenters and guests.
