Witherspoon ‘devastated’ by agent’s ALS diagnosis

Reese Witherspoon is “devastated” her agent has been diagnosed with ALS.

The actress is represented by Nanci Ryder, who was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease about two months ago, reports E! News.

She joined Nanci’s colleagues and fellow clients, including Renée Zellweger, to participate in the ALS Walk in downtown Los Angeles Sunday to show her support.

"It was devastating," she told the outlet about hearing news of the diagnosis. "We just cried and cried and then said, 'What are we going to do to get busy to change things?'

"I'm here to help whatever comes her way," she continued. "We really don't know what's next but we're here for her no matter what."

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, was first discovered in 1989 by French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot and later brought to the world’s attention in the 1930s when baseball player Lou Gehrig was diagnosed.

According to the ALS Foundation, which launched the “Ice Bucket Challenge” viral video campaign to raise funding and awareness about the illness, as many as 30,000 Americans have the disease at any given time.

Renée was with Nanci when she received news of her diagnosis.

"It was a shock," Renée said. "But she's handling it with grace. She faces everything with a humour, lifts the spirits of everybody around her. She's changed her focus to look outward and to see how her life experiences may benefit other people."

Nanci, who is also a breast cancer survivor, hopes to continue to foster discourse about ALS.

"I want to create awareness for this disease," she told E!, adding that she strives to maintain a bright outlook. "I went through a down phase but you cannot fight when you're down so I adjusted that. You can't give up. You have to fight,” she said.