Posted on behalf of someone that doesn't have a journal here:

Greetings everyone.

Melissa Kern, a very well-known organizer in the Lord of the Rings fandom in Atlanta has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS.

Her husband has started a petition to have her cast in the upcoming Hobbit movies as an extra, since the typical ALS survival rate beyond a few years is very low.

Information can be found here.

There are already 1,000 signatures on the petition, including some people very well-known in Tolkien fandom, such as Ted Nasmith, Daniel Falconer, and Peter S. Beagle.

Thanks everyone for looking.

(Post a new comment)

	rosehiptea 2008-03-12 04:21 am UTC (link)
	Normally I automatically don't sign internet petitions even if they're a good cause or they "can't hurt" but I signed this one. My friend's dad died of ALS. I really hope this works or at least the support gives some cheer to her and her family. (Reply to this)

	frau_eva 2008-03-12 05:18 am UTC (link)
	Signed just now. I really hope this will be one of the few online petitions that works. (Reply to this)

	ianthefira 2008-03-12 06:08 am UTC (link)
	Signed. I usually don't sign petitions, either. (Reply to this)

	soupspooks 2008-03-12 06:16 am UTC (link)
	Signed. crosses fingers (Reply to this)

	nekoneko 2008-03-12 09:51 am UTC (link)
	Peter S. Beagle is well known in the Tolkien fandom? As in the man who wrote The Last Unicorn? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	mydruthers 2008-03-13 06:21 pm UTC (link)
	He wrote the screenplay for the animated version of LotR, which apparently Peter Jackson used as inspiration for the movies. At least, I'm pretty sure that's how he fits into it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	schmendrick 2008-03-14 02:32 am UTC (link)
	He also wrote some introductions/forewards to either editions of Tolkien or his biography, can't remember which or whether it's both. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	kittenmommy 2008-03-15 10:01 pm UTC (link)
	It's not my fandom and I never sign petitions. But I signed this one. What a sad story! (Reply to this)