— A former astronaut is lending his hand to a newly-launched photographic, philanthropic fundraiser.
Chris Cassidy, who spent 378 days off the planet, is among the many firstclass of well-known arms collaborating in My Hand My Trigger, a non-profit initiative that goals to mix the facility of superstar with nice artwork images to assist charities and foundations world wide.
Cassidy — or extra particularly, his proper hand — posed for Dennis Murphy, an award-winning photographer and co-founder of My Hand My Trigger, whereas carrying a spacesuit sleeve. The ensuing picture was then reproduced as a 12-by-16-inch (30-by-40 centimeter) print that includes Cassidy’s life-size hand.
The ultimate product additionally consists of Cassidy’s printed signature and the date of when the picture was taken (in Cassidy’s case, June 21, 2022). The astronaut’s “hand” is now on the market for $105 per print.
“The hand tells a narrative of the achievements of athletes, musicians, medical doctors, scientists and so many different inspiring individuals. We wish to highlight that whereas additionally doing quite a lot of good for the foundations and charities that matter most to every of them,” Murphy, who created My Hand My Trigger with advertising and marketing government Everett Wilder, stated in a press release.
“It is inspiring to suppose that if as few as 50,000 prints are offered by one superstar, we have raised tens of millions and tens of millions of {dollars} for his or her charity,” he stated.
For each print offered, $75 is donated to the superstar’s charity. The extra funds cowl images bills, printing and primary transport.
Cassidy’s prints are being offered to learn the Nationwide Medal of Honor Museum Basis, a company that Cassidy has led since leaving NASA. The inspiration is working to determine a museum in Arlington, Texas, and a monument in Washington, DC to protect and increase the impression of the three,515 Medal of Honor awardees and the greater than 40 million Individuals who’ve served within the U.S. Armed Forces because the Civil Conflict.
“I’ve devoted my life to the service of others and nation, and I’m humbled by the chance to proceed to serve by serving to to steer this historic undertaking. It’s a privilege to do my half to honor the service and sacrifice represented by the Medal, its recipients, and all those that have served,” stated Cassidy when he grew to become president and CEO of the Nationwide Medal of Honor Museum Basis.
“At present greater than ever, we must be reminded the issues which unite us are a lot extra highly effective than these which search to divide. This undertaking is actually uniting America,” stated Cassidy, who along with being a former astronaut can also be a former U.S. Navy SEAL.
The sale of Cassidy’s hand prints started on Friday (Feb. 17). Different members of the My Hand My Trigger inaugural class embrace worldwide basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki, professional soccer star Dak Prescott {and professional} rock climber Alex Honnold.
Cassidy launched on three missions to the Worldwide House Station. In 2009, he grew to become the five hundredth individual to fly into area whereas serving to to ship the ultimate two elements of Japan’s experiment module after which lived and labored on board the station throughout two long-duration stays in 2013 and 2020.
Cassidy’s closing mission was the main target of the 2021 Disney+ six-part documentary “Among the many Stars.”
Over the course of his NASA astronaut profession, Cassidy carried out 10 spacewalks, an exercise that regardless of its identify is essentially achieved utilizing one’s arms.
Along with promoting prints, My Hand My Trigger additionally plans to show and have fun the hand images at gallery occasions to boost further funding for every charity. The group can also be working with its supporters on an promoting marketing campaign to offer the brand new effort a hand up.
