More you can do...

Thanks everyone who has passed along the word about getting registered on the Bone Marrow registry and donating blood (didn't hear? Check it out here). It seriously tickles me pink when I think about all of the people I have heard of who are now registered or who have/are going to go out and give blood. Together we've reached exponentially more people than I could have reached alone. WE ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE! We are helping to give people hope and life.

Here's two more things you can do:

1. Write a letter to Santa, address it to the North Pole, and drop it off at the mailbox inside any Macy's Department Store. For every letter they receive, they are donating $1 to Make A Wish (up to $1 million)! They're up to about $700,000 right now - let's push it over the edge and help others experience the power of a wish. I just can't say enough about the incredible organization that Make A Wish is - what a simple way we can all donate to a GREAT cause. (Thanks Christy for telling me about this!)

2. Watch this video (warning: you just might bawl your eyes out) and see how you can help fund childhood cancer research and treatments at St. Jude's Hospital.

From Matthew West's youtube site: This is the video my new Christmas song - "One Last Christmas." This song is inspired by the true story of the Locke family and their son Dax.

At just thirteen months old, little Dax was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. He was given two bone marrow transplants as a part of emergency treatment; one from each of his parents. The doctors then told his parents that Dax would most likely not make it to see Christmas.

This song is about the love of a family, and the coming together of an entire community to make sure that this little boy could have one last Christmas. His dad, determined that his son would see Christmas, put up the decorations early. The neighborhood caught on, and did the same. The whole town soon followed suit. A website was built telling his story. Soon, pictures were sent from all over the world of Christmas decorations that had been put up in his honor.

Dax did lose his battle with Leukemia, but not before he got to see one last Christmas. Today, this little boy's legacy lives on, and his parents are making sure it does. They were so touched by the care they received from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, that they now have a desire to raise enough money to run the entire hospital for one day in honor of their son, Dax. The total cost to run St. Jude's for one day is $1.6 million dollars. Already, they have raised a quarter of a million dollars.

This Christmas, it is on my heart to join forces with the Locke family, and help them in their cause. I would like to encourage you to join us in raising money that will go to an amazing cause in St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital that cares for so many children each year.

Together, we can reach this goal -- and fund St. Jude's for an entire day in Dax Locke's memory!