'Blinking Guy' Uses GIF Fame To Raise Nearly $80,000 for Charity

Drew Scanlon is better known as “The Blinking Guy” in the viral GIF and meme, but he is now using that notoriety for a good cause.

Scanlon, who noted two of his friends suffer from multiple sclerosis, has been participating in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's Bike MS since 2016. The 120-mile course started in San Francisco and ended in Rohnert Park, California, on Sept. 18 and 19. Prior to the ride, Scanlon asked the internet to help fund research, programs and services for this cause.

“If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society,” Scanlon tweeted. “It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease!

https://twitter.com/drewscanlon/status/1438177541525630980

In 2019, he also used his internet fame from "The Blinking Guy" meme to raise $40,000, so he doubled his goal this year since the 2020 event was cancelled.

“If a fraction of those who have seen my goofy face donated to MS research, I have a feeling we could kick this thing in no time,” Scanlon, who is part of The Big EL West team, said on his fundraising page.

While Scanlon didn't hit his goal yet, donations from $1 to $1,000 continue to trickle in even though the event has passed. As of this publication, he was just shy of his goal with $79,178 in donations.

A donor who identified as Kelly Tsircou and donated an unknown amount on Sunday commented, “Well done you! Your face does bring me joy, and now that I know what a kind person it belongs to, it does so even more.”

Another donor who chipped in $250 on Sept. 20 shared, "My name is also Drew, I have MS myself, and I use your face's GIF multiple times a week, so I feel that's fate telling me how much I should support you in this! Thank you so much for what you're doing, and for raising so much funding!"