Even though it is just a few years old, the comic strip, Cul de Sac, has already won many fans through its characters. So when cartoonist, Richard Thompson, announced that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, his fans sat up and took notice.
One of the fans was Chris Sparks, a designer and web developer in North Carolina. Sparks was building a website for Thompson when the cartoonist announced his disease. He started reading more about Parkinson's disease through books and websites. There he found that people could form public fund-raising teams to raise money for Parkinson's research. He quickly decided to form his own team: Team Cul de Sac.
However, Sparks decided to take a different path. He has contacted dozens of cartoonists around the world, who will contribute artworks inspired by the Cul de Sac strip. Thompson's publisher, Andrews Mcmeel, has agreed to release them in a book next year. Some of the profits from the book will go to the research. And after the book is released, the artworks will be auctioned off. All profits will go to the research team. The aim is to raise $450,000 for the foundation. "We've already had around 80 people who say they are interested in contributing", says Sparks.
Although many people with Parkinson's disease are private about their condition, Thompson is not one of them. He's happy to put his support behind the project. "I think we can make a difference," says Sparks, who points out that his love of comics inspired him. "I've been reading comics since I was 5 years old, and most of the cartoonists I've met have been wonderful human beings,"he says. "They've made a difference in my life, and I hope to make a difference as well."
