Bryan Morrell Fire Relief Fund
Donation protected
One of my best and oldest friends, Bryan Morrell, tragically lost his entire apartment in an early morning fire on 11/7. His cats, Mara and Richard, were unable to get out. The fire happened very fast. If you know anything about Bryan and those cats, you'll know he is absolutely devastated and loved, LOVED them. Most importantly, he got out alive. However, he lost everything he had in there.
I'd like to help him out, but I can't to the degree I would like to. Besides him being an amazing person who has never asked for anything from anyone (he is probably going to hate that I'm even doing this), I have two compelling reasons why you should chip in and help this guy:
1. In 2001, I got a 4 am phone call in my dorm. On a LANDLINE, people. It was a crazy time. Bryan, on the other end, says "Look out your window." I do, and -- Holy Shit -- WIU's Thompson Hall, the 9th floor, is in a complete blaze. That's his floor. An arsonist set it ablaze, and he and Matt Carey survived the entire thing, crawling out under the smoke. He escaped with a trash bag full of odds and ends. Lost a pretty amazing guitar, too. It was some real John McClane stuff, except it was real and terrifying.
2. Last year (I think) my ex-wife (and his mutual friend), lost her entire home in a fire, along with her dogs. It was so awful. Everyone donated $10 and $20 here or there on this very fundraising platform, but Bryan donated $500 bucks out of the blue. The family was gobstopped -- they didn't really even know him. He just knew they were good people. He just happens to be that kind of person, and he happened to have the cash. Anyone who knows Bryan knows he has always lived pretty Spartan. And that might be an understatement. So it's not like he was Mr. Monopoly or something.
So, I'm asking you not just for a donation to help him get some very basic material things again, but to give someone who has built up a lot of good Karma a chance to cash a little of that in. Bryan keeps anything up to and above the goal, which I arbitrarily picked. I don't know how to do these things really.
PS: He's scowling in that picture because that's what he does in every picture. Everyone who knows him knows he's a big softie pussy with an enormous heart of gold and we love him.
I'd like to help him out, but I can't to the degree I would like to. Besides him being an amazing person who has never asked for anything from anyone (he is probably going to hate that I'm even doing this), I have two compelling reasons why you should chip in and help this guy:
1. In 2001, I got a 4 am phone call in my dorm. On a LANDLINE, people. It was a crazy time. Bryan, on the other end, says "Look out your window." I do, and -- Holy Shit -- WIU's Thompson Hall, the 9th floor, is in a complete blaze. That's his floor. An arsonist set it ablaze, and he and Matt Carey survived the entire thing, crawling out under the smoke. He escaped with a trash bag full of odds and ends. Lost a pretty amazing guitar, too. It was some real John McClane stuff, except it was real and terrifying.
2. Last year (I think) my ex-wife (and his mutual friend), lost her entire home in a fire, along with her dogs. It was so awful. Everyone donated $10 and $20 here or there on this very fundraising platform, but Bryan donated $500 bucks out of the blue. The family was gobstopped -- they didn't really even know him. He just knew they were good people. He just happens to be that kind of person, and he happened to have the cash. Anyone who knows Bryan knows he has always lived pretty Spartan. And that might be an understatement. So it's not like he was Mr. Monopoly or something.
So, I'm asking you not just for a donation to help him get some very basic material things again, but to give someone who has built up a lot of good Karma a chance to cash a little of that in. Bryan keeps anything up to and above the goal, which I arbitrarily picked. I don't know how to do these things really.
PS: He's scowling in that picture because that's what he does in every picture. Everyone who knows him knows he's a big softie pussy with an enormous heart of gold and we love him.
Organizer
Chris Ward
Organizer
Mount Sterling, IL
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