COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) -- "This is my home, this is where my family is, it's where my heart is," says Leeza Gibbons, TV personality and Alzheimer's advocate.

Friday Emmy award winning journalist, Leeza Gibbons, returned to her roots to talk about a cause that for her, hits close to home.

"The people of my state South Carolina, are facing a tsunami with Alzheimer's Disease," says Gibbons.

Gibbons lost her own mother to the disease.

"We're like any family, we got the diagnosis and we began to fall apart," says Gibbons.

For the first time, Friday the Gibbons family opened up together about
their journey to battle Alzheimer's for an interview set to air on www.alzheimersdisease.com.

Gibbons says it's something her mother would've wanted.

"She said okay honey, this is what you do, you're a story teller, go tell the story and make it count," says Gibbons.

In a sit down interview with ABC Columbia, Gibbons talked aobut a vivid memory while atttending a fundraiser with her mother, whom was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's.

"We were a little concerned aabout her because she was becominguncomfortable in the surroundings and I couldn't find her and I couldn't find her and I looked over to the corner and there was my
beautiful Mom who had taken the dress off and I ran over there and said, "Mom, what are you doing?" And, I'm like pulling the dress up and she said, "This is such a boring party, I want to go home," says Gibbons.

The disease would only get worse as Gibbons says, stealing precious memories and eventually taking her mother.

After going through the battle, Leeza wanted to reach out to others, so she started 'Leeza's Place,' a place for families and caregivers to go to find strength, guidance and support.

All the while, sharing her mother's story with them.

"Her story belongs to the millions of disappearing because of this disease and the families who are trying so hard to do the right thing," says Gibbons.

For more on 'Leeza's Place' and to learn more about the battle against
Alzheimer's disease just visit www.alzheimersdisease.com