The Unofficial Second Life® Fashion and Shopping Blog

Recently, I took a few moments to talk to Simone Stern about the on-going sale where she and other designers are selling some of their scrumptious items to raise money for Virtual Angels. Along the way, I also got some insight into the details of raising money in Second Life that I hadn’t before considered and thought I’d share here.

What was the Genesis of Ayeshe’s Angels?

The Angels didn’t come into existence I think till some time during the first big yard sale. I had learned of Ayeshe Million’s illness, and told her that I wanted to help raise money for her medical tests. As she opened up to me, I came to realize that she needed more than just occasional testing, and that the reason the procedure was not available in her country was not an option is because of its low success rate. (Surgery is available where Ayeshe is, and has a 20% success rate, and does a lot of incidental damage to hearing, facial nerves and balance in the process).

Why did you change it to Ayeshe’s Virtual Angels?

The name of the group is now “Virtual Angels”. We made a decision to change the name in response to what we were hearing… that this is a needed, welcome effort, that there are many people who are in need of medical care they can’t afford where they are, or is just not available. Ayeshe is not the only recipient of this group’s efforts, but she will be the first.

Is is just you, or is there a team to help support the cause?

There are many many content creators in SL who have contributed items to be sold, as well as people who organize and hold events, and people who shop till they drop, and drag their friends along too, all in the name of the cause. The organizational team consists of Susan Pegler, Nerine Kasei, and myself.

Are there long-term goals for the project, or is it just about meeting Ayeshe’s short-term needs?

Long term, we want to see Ayeshe’s tumors treated. That’s what Ayeshe wants as well, as do her local doctors. They support her efforts to seek treatment where higher success rates are possible. Ayeshe has contacted a couple of facilities in the states. We will have to wait and see what the doctors have to say before a decision is made about treatment, and whatever Ayeshe’s personal decision is about her treatment, we will support her with the fullness of our hearts.

Longer term, we wish to file for 510(c)3 status. A couple of very knowledgeable people in SL who work for ‘real’ charities have contacted me, and are offering guidance on how to achieve this. I understand it will take us about a year to do so. That might seem forever in the eyes of some, but… The Angels aren’t going anywhere, and neither am I.

Are you collecting donations or is all this being done through sales?

Combinations of many things, there have been the date auctions, the music concerts, modeling shows, yard sales… I am sure I am forgetting several here. Many content creators have donated their work to the effort.. Calla hair, Calico’s Creations Hair.. myself, Neferia Abel, Popfuzz, Adorned, A&M Designs, Acey Moe’s dresses, and so many many more. People have donated things right out of their inventories either for auction or one of the yard sales.

Walk us through the path the money takes to Ayeshe?

We’re hoping to find a way to move the money out of SL directly to the physicians or facilities it needs to go to. Before I mentioned that people with experience in this matter are offering assistance.

It must be difficult to juggle the issues of one person’s medical privacy while trying to remain as transparent as possible about the raising of funds. How have you been handling that and what challenges have you faced?

For the most part, people have been very respectful of Ayeshe’s privacy, and have made a point to talk to me about the fund raising, as well as her illness. And that’s hugely appreciated. Ayeshe should be able to spend her time in SL focused on her art, and not having to field questions about her illness. Though in every group there are a few people who get a little caught up in things, and overstep boundaries. I mean, you would never walk up to someone in a hospital and announce to them and everyone else in earshot “Hey, your doctor’s a jerk!” People have felt compelled to do that in this situation, and I can only guess at their personal agendas. Ayeshe’s sick, she has proven to me that she is sick, and I will be the person handing a check to her care givers ‘in the flesh’ so there will be ‘proof’ in the form of paid medical bills. When donations are made to any organization, the donators are not entitled by their donations to be privy to personal information about the recipients. It will be no different with us.

What are the methods available to those who want to add their help to the Angels project?

Right now there’s a huge yard sale going on at the Useful Technology SIM. I am donating the proceeds of this sale to Ayeshe’s care. This sale will last through the tenth of March. Also, people are hosting events all over SL for Ayeshe. Tashie and Wags Oddfellow were kind enough to donate a portion of one of their events to Ayeshe, recently. So, that’s something people can do besides shop.. they can hold events. Coming up will be an items auction toward the middle of March, and I’ll be auctioning off a one of a kind outfit. There are also several items on display at the Simone SIM as well as the Usability Island SIM, made by several content creators, and proceeds form those sales go to Ayeshe as well. If people want to join the Angels group they can contact me or Susan Pegler directly.

~Links & Landmarks ~

Ayeshe’s Angels Blog

Virtual Angels Yard Sale
Useful Technology (57, 216, 25)

Please Note: LindenLifestyles.com encourages all our readers to give to charities openly and often, but does not officially support or endorse any particular in-world or out-of-game charity at this time. While we may give money to causes individually and/or mention them here in the blog, such acts should not be considered endorsements and there is no attempt on our part to favor one cause over another. Thank you.