About

For years, Squinternet Larnia has been an active and well-loved member of the Second Life community. There were items from her store, Donna Flora, at almost every charity fundraiser. When she was asked, she said yes.

December 2011, Squinternet learned she had breast cancer and that it had already metastisized to her bones. Her prognosis was bleak and she was not expected to see the summer. Well, this is the second summer since her diagnosis. She pursued alternative therapies that have helped and given her a hopeful and joyful extra year. However, the cancer has regrouped and her strength is flagging. At the moment she needs home nursing care and is hoping to travel to a cancer treatment center in northern Italy for another last-chance attempt to prove the doctors wrong. You can read more about her life, her work and her struggle with cancer in an article from AVENUE  I wrote last December.

Since she has not been strong enough to release recently, her income from SL has dropped to just enough to maintain her sim. In characteristic Second Life fashion, the community that makes SL what it is has come together to throw a fundraiser for her to help defray her  expenses. While Italy has national health insurance, she must finance any alternative therapies and much of her home nursing care.

The event will begin on July 25th and run through August 11th. It will feature items for sale. Designers will create one item for sale at 100% and then can sell a few additional times that they can split with a 50%, 75% or 100% donation. There will be donation jars available soon that people can put out in their stores or while dj’ing or performing.

There is more to this event than fundraising though. As much as Squinternet needs home nursing care and access to new, alternative treatment, she needs the strength and encouragement that comes from knowing she is valued. That is why we will be having many guest posts from people who know her. There is also the Messages page for people to post their  good wishes, thoughts, stories, and memories.  There is also a Flickr pool for pictures for Squinternet. Living with cancer takes money, but it also takes hope and love. Let’s help with that as well.