Charity Auction - Custom Sketches

[SilvaShado]

I just got an email from a friend of mine, Mike O’Connell. I doubt many of you have heard of him, but I did post about his web comic, The Nice Guys, a while ago.

He has Muscular Dystrophy and is in a wheelchair. He has, for the last 15 years, been fully independent because of a specially designed van that allows him to drive it. It's what has enabled him to work and not rely on government assistance. However, the van is falling apart, and he needs to get a new one. A new van with the right driving system cost $90,000. However, he has been able to find a used one for $50,000. Cheaper, but still very expensives.

If you'd like to read about his whole story, you can do so here: www.michaeloconnell.com/van/

If you feel like just donating, you can do so from the above link, but his buddies who do the web comic with him are doing an auction on ebay for custom sketches. There are 10 available sketches and all the proceeds will go to help buy Mike the new van.

Thanks so much for reading this, and if you can help - thank you, thank you! ;D

[SilvaShado]

I just got this note from Michael:

Wow. THAT sucks.

Late-breaking news. Just got a very ticked-off call from Tim. The eBay auction for commissions of Tim art to raise some van money was going along great, and had one more day left on it. That is, until eBay pulled it.

The official reason…Tim called a charity auction, but apparently does not show evidence of being an actual charity. So they just shut it down. It’s gone.

Sorry to all here who were bidding on it. We now, of course, have no way to see who was bidding, who was winning, etc. That info is now historical. But Tim is working on alternative here (this all just happened, so he’s still figuring it out), maybe offering commissions at a set price to raise money. Details are forthcoming on that, and I’ll let you know them when I know them.

Again, apologies. I’m not too happy about it either. But we’ll still make it happen, one way or the other. So stay tuned.

[janggut]

this is sad, Sarah.

but don't give up! there is always hope.

[Shan]

That's awful.

Like Jags said, there has got to be a way and you guys will find it.

[SilvaShado]

Thank you both. All is not lost. They've decided to skip the auction part and go with a donation for a sketch.

Here's the lowdown, in case anyone is interested:

1) You go to the van page: www.michaeloconnell.com/van

2) You donate $35

3) You then email your art request to Tim direct at [e-mail]

4) Tim confirms with Mike that he got the money. As your mailing address will be on your PayPal confirmation, he’ll forward that to him.

5) Tim draws it and inks it, J’amal colors it, you get your original art and a color print in the mailbox. Postage is included in your $35, in case you were wondering.