Match It For Pratchett
http://firefox.org/news/articles/1306/1/Match-It-For-Pratchett/Page1.html
Melissa Wilson
By Melissa Wilson
Published on 03/17/2008
Author Terry Pratchett is raising money for Alzheimer's research, and you can help!
Needed: Funds for Dried Frog Pills
Author Terry Pratchett is raising money for Alzheimer's research, and you can help. Pratchett recently announced that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of early-onset Alzheimer's, to the great sadness of his family, friends and fans. Not one to take things lying down, and coincidentally one of the best-selling authors in Great Britain if not the world, Pratchett has pledged $1 million to the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
Pratchett said, "After I told the world I had been diagnosed I had more than 60,000 messages within the first few hours. Most were from readers and well-wishers. Some wanted to sell me snake oil and I’m not necessarily going to dismiss all of these as I have never found a rusty snake. ... There are nearly as many of us as there are cancer sufferers and it looks as if the number of people with the disease will double within a generation. It’s a shock and a shame, then, to find out that funding for research is three per cent of that which goes to find cancer cures. Perhaps that is why I know three people who survived brain tumours but no one who has beaten Alzheimer’s. I’d like a chance to die like my father did — of cancer at 86."
Andrew Scheuber from the Alzheimer's Research Trust said, "The support from Terry, you and many others will fund vital research in the UK and around the world. Whether it's $2 or $1million that you give, the difference made is tangible. £12.50 ($25), for example, is enough to fund one hour of cutting-edge research. It looks like the blogosphere is making the fight against Alzheimer's a whole lot stronger." He added, "Perhaps some of your readers will also be interested in our eBay auction of a one-off replica of the 'Luggage'? It contains all the Discworld books signed by Terry Pratchett. As you can see, it's an incredibly desirable item!"
Donation details can be found here. Paypal donations are accepted, as are purchases of t-shirts with the "Match It For Pratchett" logo. Donations can also be made directly to Alzheimer's research groups such as the Alzheimer's Research Trust and The Alzheimer's Association.
(Sources: Hartford Courant, Facebook For Terry Pratchett, The Sun)
Pratchett said, "After I told the world I had been diagnosed I had more than 60,000 messages within the first few hours. Most were from readers and well-wishers. Some wanted to sell me snake oil and I’m not necessarily going to dismiss all of these as I have never found a rusty snake. ... There are nearly as many of us as there are cancer sufferers and it looks as if the number of people with the disease will double within a generation. It’s a shock and a shame, then, to find out that funding for research is three per cent of that which goes to find cancer cures. Perhaps that is why I know three people who survived brain tumours but no one who has beaten Alzheimer’s. I’d like a chance to die like my father did — of cancer at 86."
Andrew Scheuber from the Alzheimer's Research Trust said, "The support from Terry, you and many others will fund vital research in the UK and around the world. Whether it's $2 or $1million that you give, the difference made is tangible. £12.50 ($25), for example, is enough to fund one hour of cutting-edge research. It looks like the blogosphere is making the fight against Alzheimer's a whole lot stronger." He added, "Perhaps some of your readers will also be interested in our eBay auction of a one-off replica of the 'Luggage'? It contains all the Discworld books signed by Terry Pratchett. As you can see, it's an incredibly desirable item!"
Donation details can be found here. Paypal donations are accepted, as are purchases of t-shirts with the "Match It For Pratchett" logo. Donations can also be made directly to Alzheimer's research groups such as the Alzheimer's Research Trust and The Alzheimer's Association.
(Sources: Hartford Courant, Facebook For Terry Pratchett, The Sun)