Meat Loaf fans band together to support The Painted Turtle

Sept. 12, 2011 - PRLog -- Rock icon Meat Loaf made the headlines once more this year, reaching the final 3 on Donald Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' (as seen on FOX-8 in Australia) and successfully winning over $200,000 for his chosen charity The Painted Turtle.

The legendary 'Bat Out Of Hell' singer has a deeply emotional attachment to The Painted Turtle, (a 'Hole in the Wall' camp in California, founded in 1999 by the late actor/director Paul Newman and Page Adler) and has raised over $1m during his 6 years as celebrity benefactor.

The charity provides year-round recreational, therapeutic and medically safe camp experiences for chronically ill children who would not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy the laughter, fun and friendship of a summer camp. The experience is described perfectly by one young camper:

"You forget about medicine, clinics, and check-ups. Instead you think about fishing, canoeing and making birdhouses. You think about laughing, singing, and magic tricks. Something magical happens when you drive up to the gate of The Painted Turtle."

Here they enjoy a unique and empowering experience, breaking out of the confining shell their illness has imposed on them and change their lives forever, building self-esteem, developing self-awareness and the confidence to meet the many tough challenges they face in life.

In recent months Meat Loaf has become a grandfather (his daughter Pearl Aday gave birth to Revel Young Ian on June 19th), recorded a new album and released a new song, 'Stand in the Storm' via iTunes in the US. The single is a collaboration with his Celebrity Apprentice 'Backbone' teammates John Rich, Mike McGrath and Lil' Jon with proceeds benefiting the four charities that the group represent. Meat has also launched a limited edition of original guitar string bracelets which benefit The Painted Turtle directly.

His latest album, Hell In A Handbasket receives a local release this month in Australia and his Australian/New Zealand 'Guilty Pleasures' kicks off at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in NSW on 12 September. The first single, 'All Of Me' was released via iTunes in Australia on 25 August. Worldwide dates and an international album release will follow in 2012.

Meanwhile a small group of devoted fans inspired by Meat's heartfelt support for The Painted Turtle and by its campers' achievements, have joined together to run www.loafdomturtle.net, a new fundraising site targeted towards his considerable fanbase around the world.

Launched in August this year with the full support of the charity, Loafdom For The Turtle's goal is to raise funds to provide camp places for as many children as possible by selling what will build into a special collection of $5 wristbands, alongside a wide variety of apparel, toys and household goods via their CafePress store. Over $600 has been raised so far.

The first wristband, available now, bears a phrase that will be immediately familiar to Meat Loaf fans as his parting shot to audiences at each of his many live shows, as well as a personal philosophy of the man himself:- "DON’T YOU EVER STOP ROCKING!!!" The second, which will coincide with his Australian tour will have the phrase that inspired Meat's new album:- "GOING TO HELL IN HANDBASKET!"

It is their hope that as he looks out from the stage into the darkened auditorium, Meat Loaf will see a forest of their luminous wristbands showing his fans’ support.

The Painted Turtle is committed to their promise that no child will ever pay to have this life-changing experience. Although supported by a skilled team of volunteer counsellors and medical personnel, the cost of fulfilling Paul Newman's vision for his Hole in the Wall camps is high and the medical support many need is considerable.

Loafdom for the Turtle aims to help keep the magic and inspiration of the Hole In The Wall camps and The Painted Turtle alive for the children who's lives it enriches immeasurably. In Paul Newman's own words:

"It's not that the children say 'Thank you for a wonderful time..', it's that they say, 'Thank you for changing my life.’

Learn more about Loafdom For The Turtle at:
http://loafdomturtle.net

The official website of The Painted Turtle:
http://www.thepaintedturtle.org

For Meat Loaf’s Guilty Pleasures Australian/New Zealand tour dates visit:
http://www.meatloaf.net