Those who saw “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” whether it be in theaters or at home, are well aware that Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) is no longer in need of his signature jacket.
So what becomes of Hollywood memorabilia when it’s no longer needed? Well, in the case of this specific item, it’s auctioned off for charity.
Thanks to the auction site IfOnly.com and more than 50 bidders, the jacket sold for a whopping $191,000. An impressive number considering bidding started at $15,000.
Proceeds from the sale of the jacket, which was signed by Ford, benefit the NYU Langone Medical Center and FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures), a non-profit organization close to the actor’s heart.
“I’ve been very impressed with the work NYU Langone and the FACES team have done in the field of epilepsy research,” Ford said in a statement.
“I hope this jacket will provide some means to further that exploration. This is a cause that’s near and dear to me, and unlike the cynical Han Solo, I’ve got a good feeling about this,” he added.
Ford recently revealed his 25-year-old daughter, Georgia, suffers from epilepsy. “When you have a loved one who suffers from this disease, it can be devastating,” Ford told Daily Mail.
“You know how it affects their lives, their future, their opportunities and you want desperately to find mitigation. You want to find a way that they can live a comfortable and effective life.”
The 73-year-old actor also spoke on the frustrations he faced when Georgia first started suffering from seizures as a child.
“A few years later she had another big one, this one on a beach in Malibu, where a Hollywood director found her, luckily,” he said of his daughter who he shares with his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison. “I said to myself this is Los Angeles, we have some of the best doctors in the world, they must know what’s wrong with her. But nothing was diagnosed as epilepsy.”
Eventually Ford took Georgia to the NYU Medical Center where Dr. Orrin Devinsky diagnosed her with the brain disorder. Ford says Georgia hasn’t had a seizure in eight years.
“She is joining me to thank FACES. I admire a lot of things about her. I admire her perseverance, her talent, her strength. She’s my hero. I love her,” the actor said of his daughter.
If you want to benefit charities, check out our article on Star Wars: Force for Change!