Ms. Whimsy Beading, she says to me, "Angus, why don't you tell your readers about the Wear the Lilac for Alzheimer's campaign we do every year?" So here I am, telling you about it.
Mr. and Ms. Whimsy Beading, they really love their authors. And no author is more loved in their house than Sir Terry Pratchett, the author of the Discworld novels.
In late 2007, Sir Terry announced that he had a rare, early onset form of Alzheimer's Disease. In 2008, he has generously donated $1 million USD to the Alzheimer's Research Trust. Many of Sir Terry's fans started a campaign in 2008 to "Match It For Pratchett," including the Whimsy Beadings. At that time, Whimsy Beading wasn't even thought of yet, and they had yet to engage my most handsome representation services. Still, the Whimsy Beadings are determined folks, and over the course of the last few years, they have raised almost $1,500 selling silk lilac blossom pins.
Last year, they added jewelry to the mix with a one-of-a-kind necklace that was put up for auction. This year, Ms. Whimsy Beading is working her needle-stuck fingers to the bone to bring forth as many special edition "Wear the Lilac" jewelry pieces as she can. Here's a few of the pieces so far:
Wear the Lilac Necklace
Wear the Lilac - Petite Garland Necklace
100% of the proceeds from the sale of the pins and special edition jewelry will be donated on May 25th, split equally between the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer's Research Trust.
This cause really hits home for me. Before I came to live with the Whimsy Beadings as their handsome, not-at-all-highly-paid spokesram, I was the beloved pet of Ms. Whimsy Beading's Grandma Wilma. Grandma Wilma passed away in 2009 from complications of mid-stage Alzheimer's and stomach cancer. She was a wonderfully sweet and loving lady who adored the Whimsy Beadings and was a constant inspiration to them, and a wonderful owner to me. For her sake and for the sake of so many others who suffer from Alzheimer's, I'm asking you too to "Match It For Pratchett" and donate to these two fine charities, or help fund someone who is. I thank you from the top of my wooly head to my manicured cloven hooves.
Angus