September 20th: two special events in support of MJFF

The LeFevre Mansion, will host the 2014 Team Fox SL Autumn Gala on Saturday September 20th

Saturday September 20th marks two special events in support of Team Fox and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and they extend warm invitations for you to attend.

Team FoxSL Autumn Gala

The Team FoxSL Autumn Gala will be taking place throughout the day in the ballroom of the stunning LeFevre Mansion, the event’s sponsor. Starting at 10:00 on Saturday September 20th, it will feature fashion shows, live music and dancing, and more:

• 10:00 SLT:  fashion show hosted by BLVD  featuring designs by Solde Rothmanay, Solas naGealai, Dainie Fraina and Kylie Sabra
• 11:00 SLT: a live music performance by Quar
• 15:00 SLT: a live music performance by Mankind Tracer (Seth Regan)
• 18:00 SLT:  fashion show hosted by BLVD  featuring designs by Solde Rothmanay, Solas naGealai, Dainie Fraina and Kylie Sabra
• Plus – throughout the day – a silent auction with amazing prizes and fashion designs.

So be sure to make time to pay the gala a visit, attend one of the shows, join with the dancing and bids for the things that take your fancy in the auction? In fact, given the location, why not spend the time between events exploring the magnificent mansion and its parklands? There is much to see, as I noted back in March 2014.

TeamFox SL was founded in 2008 by Solas NaGealai, and was the first official representation for Team Fox, the grassroots fundraising organisation for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), in Second Life. Team Fox SL is dedicated to raising funds for the MJFF, disseminating information about the disease, and providing support for those diagnosed with the illness and their families. 100% of all donations received by Team FoxSL goes directly to Team Fox and the MJFF.

As one in twenty of the 8 million Parkinson’s sufferers worldwide is below the age of 40 – as were both Michael J. Fox and Solas herself when they were both diagnosed with the disease – a particular focus of TeamFox SL’s activities is that of Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD), and you can read more about their work through my recent article and chat with Solas.

• TeamFox SL Hangout SLurl
• TeamFox SL official webpage

Bilbo Baggins Birthday

Bilbo Baggins Birthday, which is being held in support of Creations for Parkinson’s, will be held at the Hobbit Hole on Bran and hosted by Branwen Arts. Coinciding with Tolkien Week, the Birthday will celebrate a hobbit’s life in literature and offer a feast of storytelling kicking off at 11:30 SLT on Saturday September 20th:

• 11:30: Caledonia Skytower – Introduction & Dinner with Dwarves (from “An Unexpected  Party”, The Hobbit)
• 12:00 noon: Kayden Oconnell – Meet the Trolls (from “Roast Mutton”, The Hobbit)
• 12:30: Corwyn Allen – Riddles in the Dark (from the chapter of the same name, The Hobbit)
• 13:00: Kayden Oconnell – The House of Beorn (from “Queer Lodgings”, The Hobbit)
• 13:30: Luna Branwen – Bilbo Meets Smaug (from “Inside Information”, The Hobbit)
• 14:15: Caledonia Skytower – A 111^th Birthday Party (from “A Long Expected Party”, The Fellowship of the Ring)
• 15:00: Dubhna Rhiadra – Bilbo & Frodo in Rivendell (from “Many Meetings”, The Fellowship of the Ring)
• 15:30: Aoife – Leaving Middle Earth (from “The Grey Havens”, The Fellowship of the Ring)

Creations for Parkinson’s grew out of the work of Barbie Alchemi and her brother, AlmostThere Inventor, in building a place in Second Life they could share with their mother, Fran Serenade, who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s  – a disease which had also claimed the life of her husband. Today, Creations Park offers a range of locations above and below the waves which are open to visitors to enjoy and explore.

Creations for Parkinson’s holds events throughout the year, often in collaboration with Team Fox SL, and 100% of all donations received goes directly to Team Fox. You can read more about Fran and Barbie’s story through this blog, or witness it through the award-winning Drax Files World Makers video of their lives.

• Creations Park central Teleport SLurl
• Creations for Parkinson’s official webpage

About the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and Team Fox

The MJFF was founded by Michael J. Fox after he had been diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) when just 29. He refers to it as a business in the business of going out of business – by finding the means to combat Parkinson’s more effectively and bring about a lasting cure.

In the fourteen years since it was established in 2000, the MJFF has raised over $400 million, money which has been put to use funding a broad-ranging and aggressive programme of research into a number of areas related to the disease: defining it, altering it, investigating untreated symptoms and developing new tools to assist in further research activities.

Founded in 2006, Team Fox is the grassroots fundraising arm of the MJFF, established in response to requests from Michael’s fans and other Parkinson’s sufferers to help support the Foundation’s work. To date, it has raised some $27 million which has gone directly to the Foundation’s research activities.

Related Links

• The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• Team Fox website
• Parkinson’s Support Group meeting SLurl