Trent Reznor praised for helping fan in need of a heart transplant
Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor has received accolades from various branches of the New York government for his work spearheading a campaign to raise money for Eric De La Cruz, a Nevada fan who needed a heart transplant, TwentyFourBit reports. Both New York Senator Charles Schumer and Governor David Patterson wrote a letter thanking Reznor for his aid, which helped raise nearly a million dollars to alleviate De La Cruz’s medical expenses. As Rock Daily previously reported, during Nine Inch Nails’ tour with Jane’s Addiction, both bands offered deluxe ticket packages that allowed fans to meet the groups before the show, with the money from those packages going straight to helping De La Cruz.
Reznor was handed his proclamations at one of his pre-show meet-and-greets on June 6th in Wantagh, New York. According to the NIN Hotline, fan Mike Caplice surprised Reznor with the certificates. (Video of Caplice giving them to Reznor is up on YouTube.) “I wanted the entire NIN community to see that their efforts have been recognized by all levels of government. I’m an 18-year fan of the band who has two parents with cancer, and have seen just how flawed the U.S. health care system is,” Caplice said in an e-mail to the NIN Hotline. “I thought this was a really special moment for all of us who have seen the band and the community evolve over the years into a really positive and powerful force.” Photos of the individual certificates as well as a photo of Nine Inch Nails posing with one of the proclamation are up on Caplice’s Twitpic account.
New York State Senator Craig M. Johnson, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and Congressmen Tim Bishop and Gary Ackerman also signed letters honoring Reznor’s efforts. To follow De La Cruz’s progress or to get involved in helping, check out the We Love Eric Website.