A most difficult thread- helping a friend, Bill Hedin

[barrysloate]

Leon and I have been talking pretty much all day, and since I initiated the drive to raise money for Bill, I feel it necessary to add a little something. I fully understand the concept of donating to a cause without any strings attached. But I did have a small string attached to mine: I wanted Bill to use the money to help pay for his wife's funeral expenses. I can't say that isn't where the money will go, but I distinctly remember seeing a post that Bill made stating he may have to sell his entire collection to pay for it. So when I found out this morning that he has been buying cards on a daily basis, I had a little bit of a knot in the pit of my stomach.

One can buy baseball cards even in a difficult time, there is no ethical line being crossed. But I didn't feel good when I heard this news. I think I will still give Bill the money I put into the fund for him. I do believe at least most of it will go where it was intended. But I know I would not have given it to him to buy baseball cards. That was not in the spirit of why I decided to help him out in the first place. I'm sure others will have different opinions, but that is mine.