In a surprising turn of events, William Shatner’s kidney stone became instrumental in a charitable win. Reportedly, a gambling company offered to buy it. The auctioned kidney stone along with a contribution from his “Boston Legal” castmates, made it an unusual success story.
William Shatner recalls how his kidney stone became an unusual fundraiser after a gambling company offered to buy it
Shatner had probably not imagined that his kidney stone would become a valuable souvenir. Incredulously, the article would help a family secure a home. The Star Trek star recalled the extraordinary events on the podcast “Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny”.
Shatner vividly recalled the feeling of passing a stone and feeling immediate relief from the pain.
“I have a kidney stone, and the guy takes it out, here it is, a little black pellet. Thank God it’s gone,” Shatner recalled.
About a week later, a Canadian gambling company called with a surprising proposition. At that time, the company was facing legal limitations on advertising. This had led them to devise an unconventional way to generate publicity.
“A week later, I get a phone call from a Canadian gambling company who, by law, can’t advertise. So what they do… they find ways of doing it,” he explained.
The company purchased Shatner’s kidney stone and auctioned it off in 2006. The sale raised $75,000, turning an unusual personal memento into an unexpected source of charitable funding.
Shatner revealed that his “Boston Legal” castmates contributed another $25,000, bringing the total donation to $100,000 for Habitat for Humanity.
“My kidney stone plus $25,000 for raised from the cast. We gave Habitat for Humanity $100,000 to make a home for a family,” he told podcast hosts Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes.
As reported, the money went into a home for a Louisiana family of five. Shatner revealed that the family was still living in that house the last time he checked.
