Author Scott Turow, whose books have sold over 30 million copies worldwide, has lent his support to the family of missing hiker Jesse Galganov, who vanished in Peru over a year ago.
Galganov, a Canadian citizen and graduate of Connecticut’s Wesleyan University, was due to start medical school in Philadelphia in July 2018. An experienced hiker, Galganov last made contact with his mother, Alisa Clamen, on September 28th, 2017, advising her that he may be out of phone signal for a couple of days as he hiked the thirty-one mile Santa Cruz trail, but would be back in touch by October 2nd. However, Clamen never heard from her son again.
Clamen has worked tirelessly to find her son, spending $2 million on search efforts, using money raised through “fundraising efforts, donations from supporters of her cause, and from liquidating many of her assets and mortgaging her home.” She even hired Israeli company, Magnus International, who specialize in search and rescue, however Galganov, who was last seen on October 1st, 2017 in the Cordillera Blanca Mountains of Northern Peru, in Huascarán National Park, remains missing.
The latest fundraising effort in order to continue the search for Galganov is an event titled ‘A Bazaar for Jesse,’ which is, according to B’Nai Brith Canada, “a multi-faceted fundraising initiative: garage sale, bake sale, sale of new items, raffle, auction and community event. It will take place on Sunday, March 17 (from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Lawrence Bergman Chalet at Trudeau Park in Côte Saint-Luc. All funds will go directly to the Jesse Galganov Fund at the Missing Children’s Network.”
That’s where bestselling author Scott Turow comes in.
Turow has no less than eleven bestselling novels under his belt, six Hollywood movie adaptations including Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford, and Reversible Evidence, starring William H. Macy and Felicity Huffman, not to mention 30 million copies of his novels sold around the world. Turow describes Galganov as ‘a fine young man, a dear family friend.’ In a video on his YouTube channel, Turow explains that though often asked to make charitable donations of his books, never before has he donated “the entire collection of [his] books, derived from [his] own bookshelves.” He goes on to say he is happy to inscribe each of the books however the winning bidder requests. Watch the full video below:
This post from Alisa Clamen’s Facebook, shared on the Help Us Find Jesse Facebook page details Turow’s generosity, and includes the auction link.
Turow also took to Twitter and Facebook to rally support:
Jesse Galganov, a dear family friend, has been missing in Peru since September. I often donate my work but for 1st time THE ENTIRE COLLECTION, from my own shelves, is available. Each volume 2 b prsonlly inscribed. Pls support the search & #HelpUsFindJesse.https://t.co/D33c02vOo0
— Scott Turow (@ScottTurow) March 28, 2018
It is always heartening to see people use their position of privilege to assist in difficult situations, and this instance is no different. Let us hope that with Turow’s generosity, and that of everyone who has lent their support to Jesse’s family and the #helpusfindjesse campaign thus far, that he will be brought home.
Featured Image Via Amazon & The Montreal Gazette