Cosplay for a Cure raises money in a creative way

STORY BY CAIT CARTER

What started as a tribute to a deceased friend has turned into a popular staple at local cosplay conventions.

In just three years, Cosplay for a Cure has raised more than $10,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Created in July 2012 by Casey Brown, 38, and Gina Greco, 25, the charity was inspired by their late friend, Shannon Neprilly.

“We were headed to Niagara Falls Comic Con when she told us she was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer . . . after she told me I realized what to do,” said Brown.

Brown connected with Greco and the two gathered friends to start the group. Once they were approved by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, they proposed the idea to local conventions. Con Bravo, a Hamilton animé and sci-fi convention, was the first to say yes.

The group survives off a grant they received from deviantART, an art-based website, and their personal finances.

The group generally receives two to four tickets from an event for their volunteers.
“All transportation, tickets, hotels and the like come from our individual pockets,” said Brown.

The photo booth style table they have at conventions began as an opportunity for people to take photos with cosplayers – people who dress up as their favourite characters – but has now developed into a very different beast.

Anyone at the convention can get a professional photo taken for $2, whether they are in costume or not. For a $10 donation, people receive an entire photo shoot on a CD.

Proceeds have grown since the addition of the full photo shoot, and Greco said most of the $10,477 they’ve raised came in the last 18 months.

Greco also credits the mainstream popularity that cosplay has received over the years.

“Most people wanted to get their photo taken. It’s a little nerve wracking as a new cosplayer to seek out photographers. You don’t know who anyone is,” said Greco. “You can be six or 60. If you want a photo, you are welcome for a donation of $2. We bring professionals to you.”

Visitors to their table at the convention vary from first-time cosplayers, regular convention attendees and a group Brown fondly refers to as the “dollar store warriors”, people who have shown up for photos on several occasions in costumes they made from stuff found from a local discount store.

Amanda Irwin of Elemental Photography is an active member of Cosplay for a Cure and works hard to bring an element of self-love to the group’s photo booth.

“For the 30 seconds to two minutes it takes to convince someone, they always say, ‘Oh, I don’t look good in photos’ or ‘My costume doesn’t look good enough’ and I have to say, ‘No, no. You’ve never had a good photographer.’ ”
Irwin offers her experience to the group as a volunteer, providing people with a positive experience with a professional.

The group aims to make everyone feel welcome, something that Neprilly strived to do as a cosplayer.

“[Shannon] was one of those people that if she knew your character she fan girl-ed. She didn’t care if it was store-bought, or a thousand dollar hand-made costume. She felt strongly that cosplay was all about fun,” said Brown.

Cosplay for a Cure works to offer a safe space for all people who come by, trying to create comfortable conversation with all who visit and added a “cosplay recovery lounge” last July.

In their third year at Hamilton’s Con Bravo, they were allocated a room to provide the usual photo shoots for attendees as well as a place for cosplayers to rest, fix their costumes and be comfortable.

“At some of the toy cons we host the recovery lounge and we want to keep pushing that. Having the photography, but expanding on that feeling of a safe space,” said Greco. “Its hard at conventions by yourself to feel safe, depending on your costume. Sometimes you get bad attention and you feel unsafe.”

While donations have made a massive difference to the group, the biggest impact has resonated with them personally. Neprilly lost her battle with cancer in March 2014 at age 31 and it shook the team. They now raise money in her memory.

“We’re remembering a friend and we do it in good spirits. It’s a little emotional for all of us sometimes, but I feel awesome about it being something we decided to do that’s still going,” said Greco.

Cosplay for a Cure can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.