Blair's Ambulance and Medical Fund

Two of our Life Long friends, Blair Parkinson and James Featherston need a bit of a leg up. This year has been a tough one for this devoted couple. James is a struggling academic in the throws of completing his PHD in Addiction studies. Blair is the proverbial struggling artist, beginning to break through, with a series of high profile commissions.

In late 2015 James was presenting a paper in Sydney when he suffered his first ever collapse and a major seizure requiring urgent medical treatment and resulting in several fractured vertebrae. Blair dropped everything and flew from Perth to be with him and assist in his recovery.

Then 10 days ago Blair suffered a series of small strokes, that have greatly affected his vision, his ability to write and his ability to paint and draw. Meaning he can’t work for a while and will require ongoing rehabilitation. The Ambulance Bill alone is around $900 and the bills are mounting.

We (Amanda McKenna and James Eade) have known and loved these lads for decades, and are desperate to help, but we live on opposite side of the country. We know others would love to help the boys and hence this Go Fund Me campaign. We have selected GoFundMe because all the funds will go directly to the guys helping them get back on their feet.

Many will know Blair for his love of all things opera and his work with Opera Box and http://belcantosongau.businesscatalyst.com/ . He was also the Secretary of Opera Lovers WA and designed the West Australian Opera's float for WA Mardi Gras 2015.
Blair studied set and costume design at WAPA where his love for drama and textiles melded perfectly together. He has a powerful online presence through his art work and local exhibitions.
http://www.blairparkinson.com/commissioned-work.html

James has been a stalwart of the Perth alternative and arts scene since the early 90s. He has DJ'ed throughout the 90s at numerous Goth night clubs in Perth including The Cell, Dominion and others he was probably far too tired to remember, largely as a result of his preference to work for bar tabs over cash. James also helped found 6RTR fm's Goth & Industrial showcase Darkwings. More recent projects include (currently on hiatus) Descent - a small night dedicated to playing genuinely good Goth music both old and new. He currently runs a monthly show on Behind the Mirror on 6RTR fm which can be heard on Wednesdays at 11pm WST. James has created a revered blog dedicated to Goth music
http://plunderthetombs.blogspot.com.au/

Professionally James Fetherston has been associated with the National Drug Research Institute since April 2001. He is currently enrolled in the NDRI PhD program, working on the thesis topic of hepatitis C prevention and treatment in custodial environments. He was also the coordinator of the WA arm of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) from 2002-2007 and remains attached to the project in an advisory capacity. Before joining NDRI, James was engaged as a Research Officer with the Drug and Alcohol Office (formerly known as Next Step Specialist Drug and Alcohol Services) and as a counsellor with the Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) .

Both of these gorgous men have been heavily involved in community building in their respective fields and passions. It would be wonderful if their community could now could ease some of this burden and show our love for these wonderful gentlemen.