Johnny is scheduled to perform both his
"Heartbroken" and "Bad Romance" programs this evening
at Skate for Hope, Nationwide Arena,
200 West Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215.
The show begins at 5 p.m.; tickets are still available.
Yesterday we learned of the passing of Johnny's maternal grandfather, Robert Moore, in one of the most poignant 140-character messages I've ever read. By 11 a.m. EDT, Johnny had tweeted again to let everyone know that despite his family's loss, he would be performing tonight at Skate for Hope as planned.
Soon after the news began to spread, fans were asking what they could to offer support to the Weir family. In response, Agentress Tara has let us know that Johnny would most appreciate it if fans could donate to Skate for Hope, which raises money for cancer education and research, in memory of his grandfather.
If you'd like to make a donation, please go to Skate for Hope's main page and click "Donate" on the top menu. From there you can choose either "Support SFH with a general gift" or "Click here to give directly." Both will take you to the same donation page in which you can include a personal note to indicate that your gift is on behalf of Johnny Weir and his family in memory of his grandfather, Robert Moore.
Of course, in these challenging economic times, a donation may not be doable for everyone, so the gift of kind words of comfort and love is equally welcomed. Many fans have left condolence messages on Johnny's Facebook page and have also tweeted them to him. We can be sure that all these gestures are very much appreciated by Johnny and his family.
Carolyn Bongirno, the truly lovely director of Skate for Hope, offered this when she learned of Johnny's request that fans donate to Skate for Hope to honor his grandfather: "I am deeply moved by this most gracious gesture from Johnny. All I can say is thank you. I am in awe of Johnny that he is thinking of others during this time of sorrow."
Me too.
Johnny's selflessness and grace in performing under these difficult circumstances is both humbling and inspiring. All those who are lucky enough to be in Columbus tonight will be truly blessed to see him skate live. It is a breathtaking experience not to be missed. Hopefully the outpouring of love that he will feel from all the fans there will offer him strength and courage in his performance.
I so wish I could be there. But since I can't, I'm counting on everybody else to post tweets and photos and videos as soon as possible so we wallflowers can live vicariously through you.
In the meantime, I've been reading the messages streaming in from fans to Johnny, which are all beautiful, including this one from Wendy Stevens: "Your grandfather lives on in many ways, including through his children and grandchildren. We get a glimpse of him when we see you."
And while I was pondering how Robert Moore had to be a really wonderful man, because he's the guy who helped give the world the amazing Patti Weir, who in turn with her husband John brought us our beloved JWe, Johnny tweeted once again late yesterday in true Johnny fashion:
Calling all Ohio residents. Big show tomorrow, Skate for Hope in Columbus. I am performing. Tickets at the door. Pride reveling LGBT Come!
I love that. Especially that last part. Because also taking place this weekend in Ohio is Columbus Pride 2010, one of the most successful and popular annual Gay Pride festivals in the country.
And so tonight's show will go on with Johnny as a headliner.
And he will skate for hope.
And for love.
And for heartbreak, and loss, and beautiful memories ...
And for life, so unbearably precious.
And I know his grandfather would be very, very proud.
Congratulations to Johnny for winning
NewNowNext's "Most Addictive Reality Star"!
PLEASE KEEP VOTING for him as Skater of the Year
in USFSA's 2010 Readers' Choice poll
NewNowNext's "Most Addictive Reality Star"!
PLEASE KEEP VOTING for him as Skater of the Year
in USFSA's 2010 Readers' Choice poll
(voting ends July 15)!
Coming soon: More info about the spectacular
Crème de la Crème Runway Fashion Show on Ice
in Detroit featuring Johnny
next Sunday and Monday, June 27 and 28!
Crème de la Crème Runway Fashion Show on Ice
in Detroit featuring Johnny
next Sunday and Monday, June 27 and 28!
copyright 2010 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved
4 comments:
Once again you have done a wonderful job! You have captured all the thoughts and feelings and put them into your blog!
Johnny is amazingly graceful and selfless, and I am so glad we are able to be humbled and inspired by him! What a lovely woman Carolyn Bongirno is, and what a great family the Weir/Moore family is. They certainly produced a very special young man named Johnny G Weir!
SFH is happening *right now* and judging from the twittersphere, Johnny is being his amazing self on the ice.
Skate for Hope is a wonderful organization, and Carolyn Bongirno is indeed lovely and clearly also spends quite a bit of time "thinking about others".
I am fortunate enough at the moment to be able to support organizations like SFH, and gratefully do so.
xoxo
Thank you, MM, for sharing your gift with us, again :-).
Finally, back in front of a real keyboard and hardwire internet connection! So, finally able to give a gift to Skate for Hope, on behalf of Johnny and his family in Memory of His Beloved Grandfather.
I am very happy to do this for I always value an opportunity to practice Tzedakah. In the religious culture in which I grew up, practicing Tzedakah in this way following someone's death is a tradition. As Tara grew up in the same religious culture, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was she who suggested the idea to Johnny :-)
Very well put.
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