As we start the 3rd and final fundraising round, I want to first thank everyone who has been so generous. I won't speak for the Gillis' but I can tell you that the outpouring of support reminds me how close knit the community is.  For anyone just getting up to speed, Larry's wife is kicking MS's ass right now but it's a long fight. All proceeds go directly to them for medical bills and support.

For the grand finale, I am offering up something I think is truly unique. This is a vintage Vader case, signed by James Earl Jones. This was signed specifically for this event. For anyone who doesn't know, I live in the same town as JEJ and through a mutual acquaintance he signed the case for me. I will include a COA from the Imperial Gunnery addressed to the winner.

I'm going to give this to a random donor and will draw the winner at the Empire State Collectors Club Meeting on June 13th.

I will ship to the winner at no charge

**Yes Mods, Admins, Devs, Previous Winners are all welcome to join**

Donations can be made directly to the Gillis family at

moppitareus@live.ca

please title it "TIG for MS". Every $10 will represent one chance to get the case!!

Count me in. Donation sent for a very good cause.

Jedi_rebel (rob)

John, I sent you a question on pm.  If I can enter I am in.

Edit: I am entered.

I want to see John's face when he finds out how much it's going to cost to send that autograph to my house

aussiejames wrote:

I want to see John's face when he finds out how much it's going to cost to send that autograph to my house

AJ, you must be crazy that thing isn't going any further than Texas.

OMG that is so awesome...can I donate to myself lol

Will look really nice in my house count me in I will proceed with donation now.

Alex

I for sure don't want this to get buried. For those who are on Facebook how about sharing this little contest around? Let's see if we can get Larry and his wife a ton of cash and where else are you going to find a vader case signed by the voice of vader.

Ya and I can buy it from the winner Jk lol

Seriously though I would like to thank you all again from me and my wife you all really don't know the strain this took off us. We pretty much cut everything trying to just stay above water over the last year. Your generosity has been over whelming to us both. I am still at a total loss of words and to see what John managed to get as a draw prize to give away is mind blowing to say the least.

I have noticed this getting around FB as well The only reason why I haven't put it on mine is well my Family, they would just blow it up as if I were begging and of course would blame my wife for it as they normally do, I know I didn't need to share that but I wasn't sure if anyone was wondering why I hadn't done it myself I am sure Knowing you all like I do it most likely never crossed your minds, that is one of the big reasons I have so much respect for all you here and why I consider you Family as mine sucks and you guys don't, lol.

And now this is Crystal speaking.

First, my apologies for not leaving a message sooner.  As I told John privately, every time I've tried, I ended up bawling. I'm an emotional girl, to say the least.

Second, I want to extend my personal thanks and gratitude to each and every member of the Imperial Gunnery.  Your kindness and generosity are, as my husband says, overwhelming.  What you donated in April allowed us to catch up on some long overdue bills that were threatening to cut our utilities off, and even left enough to do a real grocery shop for the first time in months.  I know you probably don't need or maybe even want to know that, but I want you to know so you can understand just how truly grateful we are.

As Larry mentioned when this fundraiser was first started, my immediate family are...well, a nightmare for me.  I'm not saying their evil, or bad people, just...incredibly self-absorbed and selfish.  After our disabled mother died in 2009, and after I had spent 35 years of my life helping to caregiving for her, and Larry and I spent the last 20 subsidizing them, plus a bunch of other stuff I won't bore you with, 3 of my 3 still living siblings, all male, let their true feelings for me come shining through.  (Don't bother feeling bad about the now dead one, he spent all but the first 14 years of his life as a drunk & junkie who didn't want to get sober.  Sired two kids he didn't raise and never left home.  He was a thief, never held down a job, and was physically and mentally abusive, especially to our elderly parents, who could never quite work up the courage to have him forcibly removed.  The only way we could finally get rid of him was to move Dad in with us after Mom died.  A year later he did the world a favour and died himself.)  The 3rd brother, very smartly now that I think about it in hindsight, checked out of the family 30 years ago.

So yeah, growing was far from fun.  My Dad's in no position to help us, my siblings don't even talk to me anymore (which turned out to be a good thing), and Larry's family won't help as long as he's married to me. No, we have no idea why, except that his mother doesn't like me for some reason and the rest of the family does whatever she says. Though we are on good terms with many of them, unbeknown to his parents, but the couple times we turned to them for help early in our marriage for small sums of money, repaid on time and in full, are still held over our heads. All of our other resources, including our retirement funds, are long gone.

To clarify, we both understand if you are unable to donate, that's okay, we DO understand!  As Bryan said though, we would be most grateful if you could share the fundraiser and/or PapPal info on whatever social media you are on.  We'd like to put it on our Facebook, but as Larry said, can't because of his family.  But we would both GREATLY APPRECIATE anything you can do to spread the word as the MS related medical needs that are not covered by either our regular health insurance or our extended coverage (through my old gov't job), are mounting.  We have applied and been denied every kind of disability or other funding because on paper, we make too much money. Could've fool me... :scratch:

So again, a HUGE THANK YOU to EACH and EVERY ONE of YOU!!!! *insert a few heart emojii here that aren't actually in in your selection, lol*

I am not used to anyone - with the exception of a few very close friends who have already helped to limited capacity - caring that much about me, or about us as a couple. That I've met none of you face to face, likely never will, makes all this so much more mind boggling.

Crystal

Larry is our brother and since your his wife that makes you family.  

I am sure everyone here is thrilled that you guys are getting to be in a better situation and hopefully that is bringing some joy to your lives and easing some of your stresses and worries.  I really hope with some hype this case can raise quite a bit.  I have asked the mods at two boards I am at if it is ok.

I posted this over at the Kenner super powers board. I want to say thanks to Mike Mensinger for allowing me to post it there. Coincidently Mike also told me I could post it at rebelscum, but John had already done that. Hopefully it will do some good and generate interest.

http://bkennersuperpowers.runboard.com/t30106

Thanks you bro

I can't seem to get the link you have above to work John :scratch:

I click on it and I get a message saying default mail not installed properly

James that email is his PayPal address. When your in PayPal you click send funds and when it asks for an email or phone number, insert that email. It isn't a link unless you have a mobile then When you click it it will go to your default email and that is sending an email to crystal and Larry. You can copy and paste the email in to the PayPal send payment bar.

Thank you Bryan - I believe I finally figured it out

Donation sent Also shared on my facebook group

I love being part of a community that takes care of each other.

Crystal, it's great to hear that this has lifted your spirits.

John, that case is amazing! It's pretty cool you were able to get JEJ to sign it specifically for this!

JesseVader08 wrote:

John, that case is amazing!  It's pretty cool you were able to get JEJ to sign it specifically for this!

Thanks. Even though he will never read this, my hats off to Mike (mutual acquaintance) who helped me get it.

Donation sent, wishing Crystal and Larry all the best in winning their battle!

$10 Bucks sent and my best wishes to the Gillis family. MTFBWY....A

The more the merrier. We have just around a week until the drawing so let's keep this fantastic pace up and tell everyone you can. The prize is awesome so to get in for only $10 on that is fantastic.

Thank you all and good luck everyone

Great cause and I just made a donation, good luck to you and your wife Larry and I hope everything works out for you both.

Good luck to everyone who is entering this raffle, it's for a great cause 

All the very best of wishes to you and Crystal, Larry.

Thanks Chris and snaggletooth it is an honour to be a member of a great family .