<cite>WoW</cite> Gamer Memorialized In 'Running Of Da Bulls'

After the recent real world death of a virtual friend, World of Warcraft info blog Big Red Kitty organized a touching, oft-hilarious event both to raise money for the deceased's family and to celebrate her virtual life.

Of course, a traditional wake would be a bit typical for the fantastic world of Azeroth, so instead BRK gathered a group of first-level Tauren to race across the virtual landscape.

After the dust and ubiquitous udder jokes settled, the gathering of more than 370 celebrants had traveled the breadth (and most of the length) of one of WoW's virtual continents and generated $502 for the family of the deceased.

As touching as the actual event was, it pales in comparison to the thank-you note sent to BRK by the player's mother:

WoW is a game, the people in it are not. Here is how you touched the lives of some of them...

Well, the Running of Da Bulls is done. I've read each and every post left here. I've cried, I've smiled...I even laughed while crying any number of times. It's the hardest thing Ive ever done -– this trying to get through the grief. But my heartfelt thanks to each person who took their time to send their wishes, to console us in our grief, to find a special way to honor Sharvan's memory.

The Running was an amazing event and my daughter would have had more fun than you can imagine if she'd been able to go. My husband, son, and
I ran. We mooed and we missed her. What more can we do? It was something Shar wanted, for us all to go and have fun. It is "just a game," but the people behind the characters are real. Family WoW nights will never be the same, but this is a place where, in some strange way,
I find a bit of solace. I play the little priest she made me pick back up, after letting her sit unplayed for a couple of years. Shar told me
I had to level up to 70 so I could play with her…so now I play, I cry,
I grieve, I miss my daughter, but I play because this is one thing I can do, when there is nothing more I can do about so many things.

To each member of AC and everyone else who thought of my daughter with kindness, thank you. For the help with the expenses of her passing, we thank you too. It is certainly not the act of anonymous players … it is the kindness and generosity of real people, with real lives, and great compassion.

We will honor my daughter’s memory on the night of May 17th. If you find yourself with a moment to light a candle in the darkness, whisper a "moo" to the moon, and wish her well on her journey, I know it won’t go unheeded.

To BRK & Ratshag - thank you both. You’re both amazing men and my family will never forget your kindnesses.

Good Hunting and Goddess Speed

It's all too easy to think of an MMO as an addictive game, but too often we forget that behind every virtual facade lies a real, caring person.

Events like the one BRK organized are thankfully a rare occurrence, but in the face of so many who decry gamers and gaming in general as the past time of bloodthirsty savages it's good to see that in dark times people will always find a way to come together and support those they care about.

Running of Da Bulls For Sharvan [BRK]

*Image courtesy BigRedKitty *