Match It for Pratchett (Alzheimer's research fundraiser, on behalf of a wonderful writer)

[Withywindle]

(Cross-Posted from the Fantasy Literature Group - I hope that's OK, but I wanted the biggest possible audience for this)

Excellent post here about Discworld author Terry Pratchett's big donation for Alzheimer's research (he has a rare early-onset form of the disease): http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/news/article.php?type=News&archive=0&id=205


A fan has started Match It for Pratchett, a fundraising drive to, well, what the title says.

http://www.matchitforpratchett.org/


There are a lot of different ways to give.

I hate to say it here, but this is even more important to me than political donations right now. Pratchett's books helped me survive a bad breakup and move and the difficult early stages of mental health treatment, by reminding me that life is too important to take too seriously. His narrative voice was the "friend" I felt I could always count on to distract me and get me through the night and reassure me that, yes, this life's a nasty place sometimes but it beats the alternatives. I owe him BIG TIME. And this won't help just him, but potentially millions of people.

I can't imagine what it must be like to feel your own mind slip away day by day. I fear it more than any purely "physical" illness or disability.

[Withywindle]

1. kick for the daytime crowd...

[Orrex]

2. Thanks for posting

I posted something similar in the Fantasy Literature Group over the weekend, but it didn't garner much notice.


I see that you posted there as well--nicely done!

[Withywindle]

4. You're welcome!

Your post is the first one I linked to - thank you for that as well!

[Greyskye]

3. My 9 year old son is very sad about Terry

He discovered Pratchett's books recently, and is currently reading his 3rd Diskworld book. He understands what Alzheimer's does to a person, as he can see its effects on two of his Grandmothers.

:kick: for Terry and everyone effected by this disease!

[Withywindle]

7. Awwww.

Maybe he should send him a card or something. That can be pretty therapeutic for little kids, I would think.

I'm so sorry about the grandmothers.

[Greyskye]

8. That's a good idea

And now that I've had my coffee, I realize that it's actually his great grandma's that are suffering from this. Luckily, both of his grandma's are doing fine so far.

(Myself, on the other hand, I wonder about sometimes...)

Thanks for the kind thoughts! :hug:

[TZ]

5. Thanks for this

I just discovered Discworld recently..(partly thanks to Orrex's recommendations--Still reading em-I'm on Wyrd Sisters) and it saddens me to know such a brilliant witty man has such an awful disease..:(

[Withywindle]

11. It's just damn unfair.

Someone, can't remember who, lamented that, "of all the minds in the UK, we have to lose HIS?"

[KamaAina]

6. I just discovered him after this news was posted here

if you haven't already, go forth and read "Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch", which he coauthored with the equally awesome Neil Gaiman. Then, "Match It for Pratchett"!

edit: caps

[Withywindle]

10. That's one of my favorite ones.

I've never met Pratchett, but I did get to meet Gaiman at a book signing a couple years ago, and got to tell him that book meant so much to me as a Bible Belt escapee!

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. Oh man, I am sorry that he has been afflicted with this. :^( I hope they raise a lot of $$. I just

love his work.