Quoted from 9.95 Phil’s post on TestYourMight.com:
I want to say thank you, but how do you thank people when those words aren’t strong enough to convey how I really feel. Humble, in awe, grateful… none of them can accurately describe the emotions.
When I conceived this idea, I wanted to celebrate the memory of my Mom and to honor Tyler’s father, but a day later I realize that it was SO MUCH MORE. It was about community, it was about unselfishness… it was about believing in the power we have to help other people.
The Mortal Kombat Community has had it’s share of splintering and dissent. For 24 hours though, none of that mattered. For 24 hours, community prevailed…we pulled together and worked for the greater good. People who generally didn’t get along, talked, people who were shunned, donated and played on stream. We saw past ALL of it, and showed that we have the strength, resolve, and power to help other people. For 24 hours we were truly united. Nothing can ever take that away from us as a community. Whether people came on stream to talk, play, watch, donate, or chat in the chatbox, we said to 3 different organizations, “We don’t know you personally, but we want to help you continue to fight.” Think for a moment how powerful a statement that is.
First, to all my partners in this 24 hour adventure:
My wife, Melissa: We couldn’t have done this without you. Bringing us food, drinks… baking cookies, brownies, and making sure that we could focus our attention on the task at hand and never really have to leave the mancave for much more than a few minutes at a time. You are the undisputed greatest baker in the MK Community! Thank you so much for all your support. I love you.
@Tom Brady Bill, you were my 24 hour partner in fundraising. We did it… all 24 hours! I got a call from you about 12 hours before we started where you told me that you wanted to be there from start to finish and I knew then that it was going to be successful. You have a way of bringing people to come and watch. You have a gift with your ability to talk and entertain people, and I am beyond grateful that you wanted to be part of this with me. You accepted every single online challenge to keep things rolling and donations coming. You’ve become a very close friend of mine as well, and I am grateful for everything you’ve done. Thank you brother, I could not have done this without you.
@REO It took a little time for Jimmy to get you here, but once you got here you were a beast. Either in game, on the mic, or eating cookies, you didn’t stop. Thanks for putting up with the Mexican Mafia jokes for like 4 hours…LOL. You almost made it too… I think you fell asleep on camera with like just under an hour left to go. Thank you so much for all you did bro, I couldn’t have done it without you.
@pherleece @jamessmk @Dark_Rob @Scoot Magee Thank you all for stopping by and supporting. It was great playing TMNT with Pherleece and Rob. Jimmy threw himself to the MK2 online wolves, especially at the hands of @Zaq and his beastly MK2 skills. You guys all helped make the stream entertaining and even more successful. Scoot bringing the power of White Castle late at night(like 2am I think) gave us the strength to keep going! Thank you all so much!
@Osu 16 Bit I think we got you on the XBL party chat at like 10 or 11am and that conversation lasted for HOURS! You helped keep the stream and us entertained for like 4 or 6 hours. Simply amazing… thank you so much for the support and for helping out for as long as you did.
@Perfect Legend for calling in and being part of the XBL chat via cell phone while on speaker. I appreciate it bro, thank you!
@OJuggernautO @THTB @DarKNaTaS Thank you all for being part of the XBL party chat. Juggs, thank you for playing through the UMK3 lag to get those matches in with REO.
@Tim Static @Shock Thank you both for being part of what will likely be the only time people will ever see me play MK9 either on stream or online.(unless it’s for another good cause)
@DetroitBalln313 @CD jr Thanks for being in the chat guys, people show up when you guys do and I really appreciate the support.
@Goldfishkeeper for staying on the ENTIRE stream!
@STORMS for FINALLY getting the stream article up and on the front page.. LOL.
I don’t want to list people’s real full names, but if you donated and attached a screen name, or if you played on the stream I am going to do my best to have you listed here. Needless to say, this would not have been possible without you. You have my sincerest gratitude, respect and love. Thank you all so much.
CptXecution
TakeAChance
WoundCowboy
AU_IM_Digimon
mrsalt
Zer0Hundr3d
Vip3r
Jim
Mr. Mileena
Pig Of The Hut
BigC
Jordan
Azael
Ken
Mike
oilcanboys
summoning
shock
goldfishkeeper
theoriginalrazer
STORMS
David
rtm2004
Ben
Maru
Qineuro
shujinkydink
fortayseven
Andrew
TheShowStoppa14
Claude VonStroke
Vincent
Alvin
Blackula
maxter
perfect legend
James Beck
Mr. Joshua D Bradt
Vito Devito
Mr. Paul Olsen
Erick Bailon
Mr. Ross Barnes
rev0lver
Daniel Babin
Serge Leshchuk
cd jr
Mr. Thomas Romanotto
Dallas Silka
Ryan Gonzalez
interloko
Robert C. Zilic
Todd & Dori
jboogie607
lionheart v1
n0rdicninja
SaintMasterson
Lsystem32l
Codyrd91
KT Smith
Osu 16 Bit
JamessMK
Redrum
Altaire
If I missed anyone, I’m very sorry. I listed every name I had that donated via Paypal and each of the donation sites. Thank you all so much for the donations and the support.
Thank you so much to everyone who stayed with us throughout the entire time, and to anyone who tuned in even for the shortest amount of time. Thank you all for being part of the chat as well.
The amount of money that we raised currently sits at $1,615!! To be honest, when I started this I figured I would be happy with $200 per organization, in other words, I didn’t expect more than $600 or so…TOTAL. All of you who donated totally blew away my expectations and then some! THANK YOU SO MUCH.
When all was said and done, at the end when I got on to talk about my mom right before we went offline, I began to get a little emotional and choked up when talking about her. I was overcome with emotion at that point at ALL OF US had accomplished. 24 hours, united by a common goal, with an open heart, love, and generosity. We proved that we have an amazing power…a power greater than just I have never been so proud of ALL OF US. WE ALL MADE A DIFFERENCE.
The next day, on my way home, Tom Brady called me and the two of us were still in awe of what had transpired. We both agreed that it was an emotional event for the two of us, and I’m more than positive that it was for REO as well. Neither of us could really wrap our heads around it, but the both of us were astounded by it, and in awe of how the community had rallied around it.
So, one last time, Thank you all for EVERYTHING. There is no community greater than the MK Community. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!