BUFFALO, N.Y.— Terrell Owens has a pretty good reason for missing the start of the Bills' voluntary offseason conditioning program this week.

The star receiver is in Washington, D.C., attending the sixth annual National Alzheimer's Gala. He received the Alzheimer's Association's first Young Champions Award Wednesday night for raising awareness in the fight against the disease. Owens' grandmother has Alzheimer's.

Among the others being honored are French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and his wife, Sharon Percy Rockefeller.

Owens, who signed with the Bills on March 7, made headlines Monday when he was one of several players who didn't show up for the start of the team's 12-week voluntary workout program.