First Post!

Welcome to Match It For Pratchett, the campaign to match Terry Pratchett's $1 million ( £500,000 ) donation to Alzheimer's Research. In time we will have news of how much has been raised and how you can help but right now things are still being set up. If you would like to support the campaign, the most useful thing you can do right now is spread the word. Post a link on your web site, on Twitter, Face Book or whichever social networking site you use.

Comments

[Laurie Mann]

Suggestion: Could you (or someone) keep a running tally of how much money's been donated? Since some of us are giving in the US, others in the UK, and others to Alzheimer's foundations in other countries, it might be useful to have a centralized running tally.

Jim and I gave $50 the Alzheimer's Association in America today.

[Geri Sullivan]

I'd like to see an opt-in running tally, too. In addition, let's ask the UK, US, and any other organizations we hear about if they can report monthly or quarterly on total donations received in Terry's honor (or flagged "Match it for Pratchett").

But let's not all ask them. Let's start with one of us asking each organization, and see where we get with that.

My contribution: $19.73 to the Alzheimer's Association (US).

[Geri Sullivan]

Fran Dowd has already been in touch with the Alzheimer's Research Trust about a running tally, and they're working on it. Further specifics at http://fastfwd.livejournal.com/319336.html

[Pat Cadigan]

For those who may not have seen this already:

The letter I received on 15 March from The Alzheimer's Research Trust:

Hi Pat,

Just a quick note to say thank you very much for your blog post
kickstarting the 'Match it for Pratchett' campaign. At the Alzheimer's
Research Trust, we've been overwhelmed by the support from around the
world since Terry's donation and speech on Thursday. It's completely
unprecedented for us: we're truly grateful.

As you may already know, the Alzheimer's Research Trust currently has
to turn down two out of every three applications for research grants.
Up to now, only £11 is spent on UK research into Alzheimer's for every
person affected by the disease, compared with £289 for cancer
patients. We're urgently scraping for every penny as we search for
better treatments.
http://www.alzheimers-research.org.uk/info/statistics/

The support from Terry, you and many others will fund vital research
in the UK and around the world. Whether it's $2 or $1million that you
give, the difference made is tangible. £12.50 ($25), for example, is
enough to fund one hour of cutting-edge research. It looks like the
blogosphere is making the fight against Alzheimer's a whole lot
stronger.

I know that a few bloggers have been asking for a running tally of how
much has been donated since Terry's inspirational speech and gift. I
can't tell you that right now, but I'll ask a colleague on Monday to
see if we can make it happen. I think it's a wonderful ambition to
match the magic $1 million mark through the power of blogging.

Perhaps some of your readers will also be interested in our eBay
auction of a one-off replica of the 'Luggage'? It contains all the
Discworld books signed by Terry Pratchett. As you can see, it's an
incredibly desirable item!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220211906562

Thanks again for all your help!

Kind regards,

Andrew Scheuber

P.S. If you ever need any more information about the Alzheimer's
Research Trust's work, please do drop me a line.

[Rose Fox]

Thank you so much for putting up this centralized site!

One note: In a couple of places you have "Alzeimer's" where I think you mean "Alzheimer's".

[Chris Tregenza]

Rose - Thanks for spotting the typos. They should be fixed but don't keep quiet if you see more.