One of my favorite cartoonists in Alaska has been dealing with cancer the past several years. Nathan Burgess is the artist for "Good in Theory," and has been battling it out in Seattle. Having to live down there is worth a fundraiser all by itself, but in all seriousness:
"Life can change in an instant.Just ask the Burgess family from Fairbanks. Last year, high school student Nathan Burgess complained about a sore knee. When the pain persisted, he saw a doctor and the diagnosis terrified everyone — cancer.[...] Nathan spent much of last year in Seattle, undergoing treatment. When he lost his hair, his Dad, Andy Burgess, shaved his head in solidarity.Lin Gale, his mom, didn’t go quite that far. But she has had to leave her job to be with her son full time in Seattle.Prognosis was good, but when Nathan went in for a check-up in March, doctors discovered the cancer had returned.He has since had two surgeries and is once again doing well.The emotional toll on family and friends has been tremendous. We have all kept track of Nathan’s progress through a remarkable Web site called www.caringbridge.org. I love when the “ding” of a new message carries good news. - Kris Capps
Today, from 10am to 4pm, at the Ken Kunkel Community Center, the Goldstream Valley Lions Club (donations may be made directly to that organization in Nathan's name) is hosting a "Book & Bake Sale" to help out. Along with tables groaning with awesome home-baked goodies and stacks of books, I have a table of miscellaneous ephemera: posters, framed prints, original pen & ink + wash drawings, minicomics, books and tshirts up for grabs. Did I mention zucchini bread and fresh tomatoes?A damn worthwhile good cause, as sometimes it's hard finding something to laugh at in this world, and this dude's work brings a smile to my face, even if I'm not hip enough to get some of it. And when I say he's one of my favorite and best cartoonists, it's on account of his work ethic and output under conditions that put the majority of other artists to shame. I think about that often, especially when I'm not in the mood to drag my ass over to the drawing table, or listen to a whiny student that didn't have time to finish their piece.
