When Emilia Clarke was just twenty-four-years-old, she suffered two major brain aneurysms, right after she had finished filming the first season of Game of Thrones. Earlier this year, Clarke revealed details about her brain injury in a New Yorker piece. Specifically, she spoke about her experience suffering a near-fatal stroke and how she ended up needing multiple brain surgeries, all throughout the same time she was filming for the show.
On March 21st, Clarke launched SameYou, which, according to the website, helps “young adults become themselves again after brain injury and stroke”. Since its launch, the fundraising campaign has accumulated over £80,000 (around $105,000). On May 30, Clarke had an emotional response to the fundraiser, which she expressed with an Instagram video, when the money raised was just below £38,000 (around $48,000). Since then, the amount has more than doubled.
“It’s extraordinary what you guys have done” she said euphorically in the clip. “I’m genuinely completely lost for words”.
BBC News reported that Reddit user elle_ellaria, along with other users of Reddit forum r/freefolk, organized the start of the fundraiser. Strangely enough, that’s actually the same subreddit where discontented fans first posted the petition to redo Game of Thrones’ last season. The campaign was created as “a gesture of love and support from the fandom to the entire cast and crew”, and, of course, to Clarke, “who poured her very soul into her character”.
It’s amazing to see that, despite critical responses to the last season of Game of Thrones, fans still recognize the incredible talent that the cast and crew have, and the hard work that they put in.
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