Rachael Lillis, the original voice actor for Pokemon, has been fighting cancer for several months. A GoFundMe page was created by her sister, Laurie, to help with her medical expenses. The page has received an overwhelming amount of support from hundreds of fans who are showing their love and support for one of their childhood idols.
Lillis has been residing in a nursing home since January, battling an ongoing struggle with breast cancer that has also affected her spine. Her mobility has been greatly reduced and her family has resorted to using social media to seek financial assistance in bringing the cherished voice actor back to her home.
A fundraising goal of $20,000 USD has been reached as the campaign gains momentum online. The funds will be used to provide a home care nurse for Lillis, who will assist her with everyday tasks in the comfort of her own home.
During her stay at a Los Angeles nursing home, her sister described how the environment can be uncomfortably loud, making it challenging for her to get adequate rest.
Within 24 hours of announcing the news and successfully reaching the financial goal, Laurie updated the GoFundMe campaign to express her heartfelt gratitude to all those who generously supported Rachael. She thanked everyone with much love for their kind and loving support.
Lillis, a 45-year-old American voice actress, gained recognition for her involvement in the English dub of the original Pokemon series and movies. From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, she lent her voice to beloved characters such as Misty, Jessie, Jigglypuff, and numerous others.
With more than 400 episodes and several feature-length films under her belt, her contributions to the English dub of the highly successful Japanese franchise have captured the hearts of countless fans. Many of these fans have rallied behind her in her battle against cancer.
This is not easy news to share. I have been friends with Rachael for over 25years. Most people may know us as the silly villains Jessie and James from Team Rocket or Misty and Brock from Pokemon. Please give what you can. Fu*k cancer. https://t.co/rDkOYrF3aH
— Eric Stuart (@eric_stuart) May 13, 2024
Several of her former voice-acting colleagues from her tenure with the franchise have also come forward to help spread the word. “I’ve known Rachael for more than 25 years,”Eric Stuart, who voiced characters such as James, Brock, and Squirtle, stated on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Please consider donating. Cancer sucks.”
Bulbasaur’s dubbed voice, Tara Jayne Sands, expressed, “Our friend, Rachael, is in need of your assistance. Her exceptional talent, voice, and kindness have greatly impacted our lives. Any contribution you can provide will be greatly appreciated.”
Leave a Reply