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Meet Darth Vader of Canandaigua

Randy Gorbman
/
WXXI News

His friends knew him as Eric Welch, a Penfield High grad, former Marine, personal trainer and owner of a gym in Canandaigua.

It's too late to change his yearbook picture, but you may see him around town with a new name, black mask and cape.

"I had like no true connection with my name. I grew up in foster care my whole life," says Canandaigua resident Darth Vader. "So I really didn't have like that name, for family's sake to be able to carry on."

He convinced the movie studios he meant no harm. "I couldn't like open up 'Darth's Coffeehouse' or something like that. I had to make sure that I don't use the image and use the name in that context."

Vader, sorry, Mr. Vader, says sure, the name is fun, and different, but it helps him forget his leukemia.

"To me, that's the biggest thing is having a really good attitude really can put you in a different and positive frame of mind, which is very healing.

He admits the notoriety leads to jokes from his buddies, but Darth Vader hopes it can increase awareness of the bone marrow transplant list.

"It at least bring more awareness to people registering for being on the bone marrow transplant list, whether it's for a friend, a relative, or someone that you've never met before."

Vader's on the list, but needs money for the operation. (The Force is strong with this one.) As of Christmas Eve night, his GoFundMe account had reached $16,000.

Credit Film Fan/Wikipedia

That new movie? Vader gives "The Force Awakens" two robotic thumbs up, calling it a good transition from the old and new generations and old and new movies.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.
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