By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
A local family whose passion for charity and Star Wars will host a benefit for a special needs child during the Piedmont Founders Day festival.
Eric Jones regularly participates in fundraisers across the state as part of his work with the Oklahoma 501st Garrison, known as the bad guys in the Star Wars movie series. It is a charitable organization with members throughout the world.
“We will have a booth inside the First Baptist Church,” Jones said. “Our people in costumes will be mainly at that location and some will walk around. Anyone is welcome to take pictures and there’s no charge for that. We do have an event, ‘Blast the Trooper.’ We set up Nerf guns and for donations to the family, anybody, all ages can grab a Nerf gun and blast their storm trooper.”
The funds will benefit the Blagg family. Nicholas and Cheyenne Blagg face high medical bills in the care for their two-year-old daughter, Denver. She was born nine weeks premature and spent the first six months of her life in an ICU neo-natal unit. She has survived multiple surgeries.
“She’s starting to thrive,” Jones said of his neighbor’s beloved toddler. “She’s not speaking yet but she’s starting to make sounds associated with specific words. The family is going to have to learn sign language. She goes to therapy three times a week.”
Denver is not the only child they see struggling with health issues. The group has visited hospitals across the state including the Children’s Center where they cheer up children who want to forget they are ill.
“We’re not all about fund raising,” Jones said. “We provide a chance for kids to have fun and become their favorite characters.”
Showing up as Storm Troopers takes dedication because the costumes have to be according to certain specifications for authenticity.
“The costumes are from a variety of sources,” Jones said. “Most people either make their own or you can buy specific kits that you put together. Nothing comes assembled or ready to go. The armor for a Storm Trooper will come in a box and it’s just all the plastic pieces. Then you put it together and have it sized for you, trim it just right. It has to be movie accurate and fit you correctly.”
While some movie producers have invited the Garrison to appear in shoots, most of their time is spent on helping others. The organization generates money at big ticket events. Members attend large conferences such as Comicon, Lego Universe, and more recently the Wizard Con in Tulsa. They set up the Storm Trooper booth and collect donations.
“Even if a kid has 50 cents in his pocket and that’s all he has, he can pick up a Nerf gun and shoot a trooper,” Jones said.
The organization also supports Make-A-Wish Foundation internationally, he said.
The Garrison has 12,000 members in 60 countries, but the 80 members in Oklahoma also stay busy with local causes that are closer to home.
“Normally as a state garrison, we have a fundraiser that we sponsor for each of Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas,” Jones explained. “We have a big group in OKC and Tulsa. Each picks a city-wide organization to support. In this particular case, it’s the first time we’re participating in the Piedmont Founders Day. We thought it was a good idea to sponsor someone in the local area because, being a local event, we think it makes people a little more charitable instead of a city-wide thing.”
Piedmont Founders Day is slated for September 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
