Fundraiser for The Cran!

Dear Friends, and Customers,

It is with great regret that I write to inform you of the following situation. As some of you undoubtedly know by now The Cran has been diagnosed with Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia a slow-growing lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system). This form of cancer is a rare, only about 1,500 cases in the US annually and at this time there is no known cure for it, but there are several treatment options available to help control the symptoms of the disease.

The past few years have seen hard times for the store as evidenced by the downsizing to a smaller location and eventual closure, as well as for other small businesses in this depressed economy. Being a small business owner the Cran didn't have health care coverage, and most of his finances have been exhausted in trying to keep the store going. Adding this rare illness on top of all these other factors has been a huge financial burden for him, and he is unable to seek other work because of this disease. We are trying to organize a fund raising dinner to help raise some money for the man who means an awfully lot to us to help him meet his day to day expenses, as well as medical costs.

If Land of Cran was an important place in your life or you enjoyed your time shopping there, we are asking you for your generosity and kindness to help by either donating money, buy a ticket to the event, or place a bid on one of the silent auctions. Anything will be appreciated in this time of need.

Bill's Books & More will also have dinner and ticket information as it becomes available.

The Cran is a member of a local organization of friends and businessmen that call themselves the Pigdogs, and they are the ones who are putting together this fund raising dinner. They contacted Shane and myself to bring in the comics side of Cran's life to help make this event the best we can.

The event will be a spaghetti dinner at the Greentown Athletic Club. We are hoping to sell 500 numbered $20.00 tickets for a chance at a grand prize which will be a total gym courtesy of Fitness Quest Inc, Canton OH and door prizes (depending on donations),

From donations of themed baskets, corporate gifts, original comic art, sports tickets etc. money will be raised via "silent" auction, where bids are written on a sheet below the prize. Some of the comic artists involved with us are:

Robert Atkins (GI Joe)
Darryl Banks (Green Lantern)
Tome Feister (GI Joe Origins, Ex Machina)
Gene Gonzales (Pin-Up Artist)
Scott James (Mutants and Masterminds)
Comfort Love and Adam Withers (Mutants and Masterminds, the Uniques, Rainbow in the Dark)
Todd Nauck (Young Justice, Wild Guard and Amazing Spider-Man #583)
Joe Pekar (Pin-Up artist)


The key to make this a success is to raise most all of the funds before the event. All of you who where nice enough to say you would help in any way, or you do not live here and want to help, there is a paypal donation button at the top of this Blog and 100% of the money will go Directly to the Cran.



Benefit Dinner for The Cran!
Where- Greentown Athletic Club 9944 Cleveland av nw Greentown 44630
When- Sat. April 2nd doors open 3:00 Dinner 4:00-7:00 grand drawing 7:00
BYOB

For more details contact:
Shane Simek - 330 704.9026, simek108@earthlink.net

Terry Bigrigg 330.639.9349, t.bigrigg@gmail.com

Thank you so much for your contribution!