Rush is a Band

A blog devoted to RUSH:
Neil Peart, Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Rush charity updates

Thu, Jul 19, 2007@6:43AM | comments removed/disabled

It's been a while since I've given any updates on the many Rush-related charities that I've mentioned on this site over the last few month. So I thought it was about time I did since so much has happened. Back in April I introduced you to the Rush to Fight AIDs project; an effort to collect toiletries and personal hygiene products for AIDs patients from Rush fans out on the Snakes & Arrows tour. For all the details check out the Rush to Fight AIDS mySpace page. The project was the brainchild of Rush fan Jessica; a volunteer at the Southern Colorado AIDS Project (S-CAP). The project has really taken off and fans have generously been sending all sorts of donations Jessica's way. Here's an excerpt from one of Jessica's recent mySpace blog posts:

... The other day, I started putting together some hygiene kits from all the wonderful things you guys have sent me so far...

I have 75 COMPLETE kits (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc), and that's probably about half of it. WOW!!

That is not even counting the two moving boxes I have that are full of full-size things like deodorant, toothpaste, razors, shaving gel, etc. What an amazing turnout so far. I seriously cannot believe it. ...

Several fans from this site have been helping Jessica out including Jeanette (aka Nettie). Last Friday she put forth a challenge to everyone to try and obtain a picture of Neil Peart smiling (a rare occasion) while at his kit out on the tour. Rather than describe her challenge here and tell how it relates to the Rush to Fight AIDS project I'll just echo this blog post that Jessica made over at the project's mySpace site a couple of days ago:

... Here's the challenge--

We are trying to catch Neil Peart in a smiling moment somewhere on the Snakes and Arrows tour. We know it happens, but we know it's rare. Jeanette has pledged herself for $20 to each S-CAP and Second Harvest (the national hunger-fighting organization) when a photo of a smiling Neil behind the drumset appears on www.rushisaband.com.

She is inviting everyone to join in--pledge a dollar--pledge five, ten, twenty... whatever suits you. See if you can be the one to capture this rare event! Jeanette is taking pledges via her myspace page (www.myspace.com/jwalcheske). Just let her know how much you'll donate to each charity when that photo appears.

Donations to both S-CAP and Second Harvest can be made securely online via www.s-cap.org and www.secondharvest.org.

If you prefer to send checks, make them out separately to S-CAP (be sure to put "the Rush to fight AIDS" in the memo line) and Second Harvest, and then send them directly to the organizations:

Southern Colorado AIDS Project
1301 S. 8th Street
Suite 200
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network
Philanthropic Programs
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60601

As always, contact me (or Jeanette) with questions... And stay tuned into rushisaband.com to look for that photo!

Thanks for your help, see you in Vegas and/or Red Rocks. Keep those toiletries coming!

So if anyone can get a pic of Neil with a big shit-eating grin (while playing on his kit), send it my way or just post it in the tour section and let me know. And let Jeanette (Nettie) know of any pledges you'd like to make. You can get a hold of her via her personal contact form.

Another Rush-related charity event that I'd first mentioned back at the beginning of May was the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life of Westminster. As part of their fundraising efforts, they had set up a raffle for a Paul Reed Smith guitar signed by Rush. They had originally planned on conducting the drawing after the June 23 show at the Nissan Pavilion but decided to extend it. Entry closes on August 20th and the winner will be announced on August 25th. Details at this link.

And let us not forget about our troops overseas. I'd mentioned Tunes 4 the Troops in a post a few months ago. They're an organization that collects CDs, DVDs, etc. and sends them to the troops on the frontlines. Several of you probably have an extra copy or two of Snakes & Arrows lying around - or some old Rush CDs that you've replaced with the remasters. Why not send them to a soldier overseas? It's a great way to support the troops and Rush at the same time! For details on how you can help, visit the website here.

If you know of any other Rush-related charities that you'd like me to mention on the site be sure to let me know.

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