Across four days between Thursday September 4th and Sunday September 7th, and in support of Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) 2014, venues across Second Life and musicians around the world came together under the banner SL Music Races for a Cure to further help raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational cancer research that can get new cancer therapies to patients quickly.
I was able to preview the event ahead of time, and played a small role in encouraging the Lab to promote it as well, but I’m running a little behind in covering the outcome, which has been quite phenomenal.
SL Music Races for a Cure was the brainchild of Still Braveheart, and brought together more than 20 music venues in SL and over 150 artists in a four-day festival of music and fundraising (including snail races!), all undertaken with the official support of SU2C.
And the result is that during the four days of the event, over L$1.5 million (around $6,000 USD) was raised in Second Life for SU2C. What’s more, as some venues still have kiosks up and available, the money is still being received as further donations are made.
“There are not enough thank yous in the world that would begin to cover it all,” Still said after the event, “The music community has always been such a wonderful community with such huge hearts, so very passionate, it is overwhelming. I have seen some things that venues have done this past month; performers gave so much of their hearts and time. There was a beauty in watching venue owners put together some amazing, amazing line ups.”
Nor did venues stop at hosting events, as Still points out, “BS’s, LC Live, and Guthries all changed their land to show that Stand Up 2 Cancer was what they were doing and you did not see their own logos. Smokin’ Aces gave out shirts they made. Solana’s place made shoulder pets that were given out [and] also made ribbons that were put up with every donation…” Individuals also got involved in helping to support things, with Still noting, “A close friend of mine made a beautiful memorial clock that was given out with a specific donation amount.”
Transparency in any fundraising event is important – and it is very important to Still as well. To this end, she has published, and has been updating, a full transaction history for the festival, which is open for anyone to view. There are also photos taken at the various venues available via Facebook. and on Flickr, such as through Wildstar Beaumont’s photosteam.
SU2C at Ce Soir, taken by Wildstar Beaumont, September 7th, 2014 (Flickr)
Such has been the response, that Still has been inundated with requests from people wanting to do more. However, rather than rushing into things, she’s taking a wise and pragmatic route, stating she’ll only consider further steps and possible activities once she has consulted with the folk at SU2C.
There’s little doubt the SL Music Races for a Cure was a very special event – one which may possibly be repeated as a part of future SU2C events.
About Stand Up 2 Cancer
Stand Up 2 Cancer SU2C, is a US-centric, non-profit organisation run under the auspices of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, specifically established to raise funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational cancer research that can get new cancer therapies to patients quickly.
Since its inception in May 2008, SU2C has seen over $261 million pledged in funds, which has contributed to some 141 clinical trials involving 750 scientists and 5,000 cancer patients, and which have spanned 112 US institutions.
SU2C’s approach is to break down the barriers faced by cancer researchers in having to compete for funding for their projects, by fostering and financing interdisciplinary and cross-organisational collaborative research programmes using what they refer to as Dream Teams. 100% of all public donations goes directly into supporting these collaborative research activities.
Find out more through the following links:
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 