You’ve probably already seen this gif if you regularly browse social media. The “Blinking White Guy”, a blonde man who blinks while frowning, is a meme that has become famous around the world. It is generally used to convey an ironic message about surprising news.
Behind this face is Drew Scanlon, who a few weeks ago launched a fundraiser to finance research against multiple sclerosis. Their bet paid off, as $300,000 was raised for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an American organization, The Guardian reports.
A regular at fundraising to “do good”
This is not their first donation campaign: they already raise money once a year through a bike race. It even has a domain name in the name of the meme, BlinkingGuy.com.
On ABC, Drew Scanlon explains wanting to “give to others” after being the main character of a widely used meme today.
According to KnowYourMeme.com, it was during a streaming broadcast in 2013 that the meme was created. At that moment, he heard one of his companions make a double meaning, materializing this expression of disbelief. This excerpt was then shared on a forum in the form of an animated gif, before gaining popularity with the success of Twitter (now X).
Aware of being an unwitting superstar, Drew Scanlon speaks at least once a year on his X account to remind people “that it is (his) face.”
In any case, the fundraiser was celebrated by Internet users: “I would love for the legacy of the meme to be used for good.”
Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, can appear due to genetic predispositions, but also due to lifestyle habits. As Health Insurance explains, smoking, air pollutants and obesity are “contributing factors.”
In France, in 2024, more than 130,000 people would be treated for this disease, a constant increase (113,000 in 2016). There are ways to improve patients’ lives, but no treatment can cure them.
Source: BFM TV
