A rockin’ good cause: West Torresdale resident Jennifer Pownall recently debuted the Rock Out Brain Tumors Air Guitar Challenge during an appearance on Fox 29’s Good Day morning program. TIMES FILE PHOTO
Jennifer Pownall promised a new social media craze that would raise much-needed funding for patients with an often overlooked medical condition. On Aug. 24, she delivered when she debuted the Rock Out Brain Tumors Air Guitar Challenge during an appearance on Fox 29’s Good Day morning program.
Pownall is the West Torresdale resident who was featured in Aug. 5 editions of the Northeast Times ahead of her benefit party at Cappy’s Cafe where she raised thousands of dollars for the National Brain Tumor Society.
Pownall has three non-cancerous brain tumors, although they cause her a host of maladies such as intense headaches.
Similar to the popular Ice Bucket Challenge, Pownall’s Air Guitar Challenge involves the posting of home videos to web-based social media sites. The challenge is to play air guitar with the poster’s favorite rock song playing in the background. Those who complete a video can then challenge their friends to do the same. Those who aren’t up for the challenge are asked to donate to the NBTS, an amount as little as $5 or $10 although larger contributions are obviously welcome, too. Those who complete the challenge can also donate.
Pownall posted the first video to YouTube.com on Aug. 21, linking it to an event page on the NBTS website (nbtsevents.braintumor.org/rockoutbraintumors). Contribution information is on the same event page.
As of Tuesday, there were 20 donations totaling $535. Pownall’s goal is to raise $10,000. Air guitar players don’t need to be challenged to make a video or to donate. The NBTS supports medical research and patient services. ••
