So the Stonemaier Games charity auction happened. Up for grabs by the winning bids (there were 10 lots) were the amazing looking, 4 sets of Scythe metal mechs signed by designer Jamey Stegmaier.
This blog was one of the content creators chosen to be promoted by Jamey and to nominate a charity to raise funds for.
The charity I chose was Sane.
I’d like to use this post to thank Jamey for doing this, and allowing me the opportunity to raise funds for something so personal.
If you read the blurb I wrote for the auction you will see how personal it is. This September just passed was the 30th Anniversary of my Dad committing suicide. To be able to raise money in his honour thanks to a very generous donor on bgg, Jamey and Fullfillrite is amazing. The fact I can also pay tribute to my brave friends and family who battle daily with depression and anxiety also is unbelievable.
Naturally one or two people that saw a post a few months back on a gaming Facebook forum, and close friends and family now will be crying bullshit, and my blurb also hints at it also. It’s true what I wrote above. That is the reason why I chose Sane. But and I find this part hard, because I’m not as open about this as my brave friends are. I find the really personal stuff hard to talk about. And there is still that stigma about mental health no matter what media campaigns are run. This is a “metoo”. I’m not going to go into specifics or my history, but suffice to say I am more than familiar with the struggles that my brave friends and family are going through that have depression/anxiety.
Words really can’t do justice to how I feel about Jamey having given me this opportunity to do something positive in Dad’s memory and for my friends and family. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of the winning bid, the person who made it is incredible. A big thank you doesn’t seem adequate. But thank you.
Normal flippant, irrelevant, and boring MtG and gaming posts will resume tomorrow.
I really appreciate you sharing your story and giving us the opportunity to support Sane through this charity auction. Thank you!
Thanks, Darren for this post. No one likes to talk about personal challenges, but the only way anyone will change things for the better, is if we do. So thanks for sharing your story, and we’re thrilled to help out a cause that means so much and can do so much good for people who need it the most. Thanks, Jamey, for including us in the auction. It is always enjoyable to connect with you on the fun stuff like boardgame fulfillment, but it’s a privilege to make a real difference together.
Keep up all the great work!
Michael, fulfillrite.com