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I just learned, that my all time favourite Author, the fantastic Terry Pratchett (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_pratchett), was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Good news - it's a relative harmless kind of Alzheimers, but also a relatively rare one, as far as I understood.

When he found out, that, even though Alzheimer's disease is as common as cancer, research into the condition only gets 3% of the fundings available for cancer research, Pratchett thought this has to change and donated £500.000,- to Alzheimer research himself and started raising awareness in TV and newspaper interviews.

Also, fans have started the http://www.matchitforpratchett.org/ - Project, it's target for starters is to match the 500k British Pounds (*very* roughly $/€1.000.000) Terry has donated.

I could go on now and write down some sad stories, but I won't - just let me say that I personally know Alzheimer cases, and you can believe me when I tell you that, if it advances far enough, the person you once knew simply is gone, totally replaced by a shadow of what he or she once was, in need of daily help. Up to this point there is no known cure.

So... If you have some money left at the moment (think alone of all the money you saved because my music is free!) ;), and think about spending it for a good cause, then check http://www.matchitforpratchett.org/ - not just for Terry. Alzheimer is a disease that comes with age - and I do hope we all get older... It can hit everyone, just like cancer.

So, cough up a few Ankh Morpork Dollars (even those new ones that are printed on paper!)!

To Terry:

For years now you brought me ongoing joy with your books. You made me smile and laugh out loud, you made me think and rethink, you made me marvel and wonder. And you managed it to do it again and again and again... For that I thank you! (oh, and thanks for improving my English too on the way).

If, right now, a fairy would appear in front of me (one of the magical ones, not the other type) to grant me three wishes, the first two would certainly be a bit egoistic, but the third would be: "And the same for Terry Pratchett"!

But Alas, here on Roundworld there is no magical fairys (only the other type) and no gods that I could call down from mount Olympus to cure your illness. Pity. Sometimes.

What I can do is help to spread the word a little and also send you my bestest wishes. Should you come to Bonn again at one time I would be honoured to buy you a beer. Or a glass of water. Maybe a nice cup of coffe? I bet they even have cake!

Dear Terry - I wish you all the best in the world, and I hope that you'll have time to write many more books. Or do whatever else you feel like at the time.

Michael, a fan.

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