Crime Fiction Writer Launches Raffle to Raise Money for Alzheimer’s Research at TSRI

New York Times best-selling crime novelist Tess Gerritsen, whose work inspired the popular television series Rizzoli & Isles, has launched a social media campaign to raise money for Alzheimer’s disease research at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI).

Gerritsen has launched an online raffle that offers two grand prizes—opportunities to name a character in her next Rizzoli & Isles thriller. Three runners-up will receive packages of a signed copy of Gerritsen’s most recent hardcover novel, Last to Die, a Rizzoli & Isles baseball cap, tee shirt and surgical scrub top, and handcuff earrings.

Gerritsen is matching all funds raised in the campaign up to $25,000.

“Like many people, I’m afraid of heights and sharks and grizzly bears,” writes Gerritsen in her blog. “But one of my deepest fears is of losing my memory—and my sense of self—to Alzheimer’s disease. My father died of it, so I know that it destroys not just the patient, it also devastates the entire family.... Which is why I’m declaring war on Alzheimer’s. This war can be won, and our fiercest warriors are scientists.”

A San Diego native and former physician, Gerritsen says she chose to donate to TSRI because of its ranking as one of the most influential biomedical research institutes in the world, its “steady stream of medical breakthroughs leading to new therapies for a wide range of illnesses,” and its top Charity Navigator rating of four stars for fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Each $5 entry in the online raffle offers a chance to win; a $50 donation offers 10 chances. Enter and find additional information at http://www.gofundme.com/War-on-Alzheimers . For Gerritsen’s full blog post on the raffle launch, see http://www.tessgerritsen.com/blog/what-scares-you

Send comments to: press[at]scripps.edu

Tess Gerritsen, whose work inspired the popular television series Rizzoli & Isles, has launched an online raffle to name characters in her next book. (Photo by Jessica Hills.)

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Crime Fiction Writer Launches Raffle to Raise Money for Alzheimer’s Research at TSRI

Crime Fiction Writer Launches Raffle to Raise Money for Alzheimer’s Research at TSRI