Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?

GeneralElectric · #1 07-03-2009, 06:25 PM

So maybe about a month ago an old friend of mine from growing up managed to fall out a window. He shattered 7 vertabrae and they replaced them with titanium replacements.

He's currently paralyzed from the neck down and there isn't much hope for him to regain movement. He'll never walk again, and they say it'll be a miracle if he regains partial use of his arms and hands.
He's currently awake, and all that fun stuff, but he recently just got over a very bad fever and he was slipping in and out of a coma for awhile. Currently, he's doing great all things considered.

So if you're the praying type, I'm sure a few more prayers sent his way wouldn't hurt.

However, whats really been sticking in my craw is the fact that they decided to have a fundraiser for him and its going to be a surprise for him when he finds out. However, what pisses me off, is that this just isn't any old charity ball, its a walkathon.

Honestly.

What.

The.

****.

The cruel irony of this is readily apparent to me, but I won't do anything about it. I'll just rant on talkbass unless someone else has any bright ideas for fundraising.

tplyons · #2 07-03-2009, 06:29 PM

It's pretty messed up if you think about it.

"Hi, we made all this money doing something you can't do. Hope you like it"

Mike N · #3 07-03-2009, 06:38 PM

Wow.

allexcosta · #4 07-03-2009, 06:46 PM

Ironic, yes... Still noble IMO. All help should be welcome... What if it was a food event? He can't cook either, can he? Or a music event. Can he play or dance? I mean...

**SoComSurfing** · #5 07-03-2009, 06:56 PM

Having been deeply involved with several different types of fundraisers for the local chapters of two national charity organizations, I think they made the right choice. Perhaps a bit morose, but walkathons and 5ks and things of that nature tend to raise more money, IME.

electracoyote · #6 07-03-2009, 07:06 PM

Any attempt by friends and well-wishers should be appreciated. He's lucky so many people care. Everyone will just have to come to grips that the guy may never walk again, and that's not going to stop society from walking. I don't think it's a cruel irony at all. Here's wishing your friend only the best. If he's a musician, I do hope he gets his arms and hands back. Lots of practice time to look forward to.

When life hands you lemons...

cassanova · #7 07-03-2009, 07:13 PM

Back in the early 90's a friend of mine was in a very bad car accident. He was very close to dying. What his family did for a fund raiser was threw a block party. It was quite the success too. His parents made a lot of money that day/night.

RWP · #8 07-03-2009, 07:27 PM

How did he manage to fall out of a window?

MakiSupaStar · #9 07-03-2009, 08:15 PM

There's going to be irony in a lot of things, and frankly you can't pussyfoot around it. Be there for your buddy, don't rub his face in it, but don't avoid topics or activities or everyday life at his expense. I think that worse. Just consider the kindness of the gesture as nothing more than the kindness that it is. If you want, perhaps you could do your own fundraiser GE style.

mike_v_s · #10 07-03-2009, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

Having been deeply involved with several different types of fundraisers for the local chapters of two national charity organizations, I think they made the right choice. Perhaps a bit morose, but walkathons and 5ks and things of that nature tend to raise more money, IME.

Which organizations (if you don't mind me prying)? PM me the names if you'd rather they not be public. I used to do a bit of fundraising myself, but it was more "events" (dinners, golf tournaments, etc).

Mike

TrooperFarva · #11 07-03-2009, 08:30 PM

What would you prefer? A breathe-a-thon? A blink-a-thon?

GeneralElectric · #12 07-04-2009, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

If you want, perhaps you could do your own fundraiser GE style.

I pay my rent by throwing parties. I think the amount of people required to make a lot of money for this would result in at least one overdose and more than one pumped stomach.

I'll be attending the walkathon, and I still don't know what hospital he's at or if he's home again.

But does anyone have any ideas, or maybe a company or something that could sponsor the walkathon? Or maybe a cook off? I don't know.

MJ5150 · #13 07-04-2009, 12:36 AM

Wheel chair bound people can join walkathons. Get sponsorships per mile walked, or per minute walked, etc.

Chili or pie cook offs are popular.

-Mike

Gopherbassist · #14 07-04-2009, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

"Hi, we made all this money doing something you can't do. Hope you like it"

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

...and they say it'll be a miracle if he regains partial use of his arms and hands.

What do you mean? At this point all he can do is eat, ****, and have some one else clean him up. Are they supposed to have an eat, ****, and have someone else clean you upathon?

Disco_Gee · #15 07-04-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

What do you mean? At this point all he can do is eat, ****, and have some one else clean him up. Are they supposed to have an eat, ****, and have someone else clean you upathon?

That's a very good point.

**SoComSurfing** · #16 07-04-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_v_s

Which organizations (if you don't mind me prying)? PM me the names if you'd rather they not be public. I used to do a bit of fundraising myself, but it was more "events" (dinners, golf tournaments, etc).

Mike

UCP and CFF. I worked part-time for UCP for about two years, and my family has been heavily involved in CFF for about 12 years now. My ex-sister-in-law (damn, that's a lot of hyphens) has been the regional director (Alabama and NW Florida) for about 5 or 6 years after starting the Mobile chapter about 12 years ago.

GeneralElectric · #17 07-04-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

What do you mean? At this point all he can do is eat, ****, and have some one else clean him up. Are they supposed to have an eat, ****, and have someone else clean you upathon?

At least Trooper Farva's post was kinda funny.

Number27 · #18 07-05-2009, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

What would you prefer? A breathe-a-thon? A blink-a-thon?

no: staring contest

benthughes · #19 07-06-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gopherbassist

What do you mean? At this point all he can do is eat, ****, and have some one else clean him up. Are they supposed to have an eat, ****, and have someone else clean you upathon?

Dude.......really?