Please Read!

Although it is not the normal direction of my blog to campaign for a cause, I have something I think is important I would like to share in regard to the passing of the sweet girl in my previous post.

Just this past week, not only did sweet Mara pass away from a horrible brain cancer (brain stem glioma, also referred to as a diffuse intrusive pons glioma or DIPG), but so did 3 other children with the same disease. Did you know that although there are only about 200 diagnosed cases per year of DIPG there are 2 young children currently fighting this disease in the Tri-Cities alone and the rate of a child surviving this cancer beyond 1 year is only 8%?

So where does AMEX fit in, it is VERY SIMPLE - keep reading (by the way, I am NOT asking for credit card donations):

Here is something rather simple for all you AMEX card holders to do to significantly improve the lives of children with brain tumors......I’VE DONE THIS AND IT’S VERY SIMPLE. In less than 2 weeks, American Express will announce the top 5 projects in its philanthropic campaign. Project Brain Child, which proposes to conduct a National Pediatric Brain Tumor Registry, competed against almost 1,200 projects and has made it to the Top 25. What's at stake? While the top 5 nominated research projects all receive some funding, the project coming in 1st place will receive $1.5mm. What's needed? VOTES... While the process to select the Top 25 was open to anyone, the process to select the 5 Finalist is only open to AMEX cardholders. It only takes a few minutes to vote so please vote and pass on this message to everyone.

Currently, Project Brain Child is in 9th place and we need to get in the Top 5. JUST your vote (and 2 minutes of your time) CAN HELP SAVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH BRAIN CANCER!With YOUR vote, PROJECT BRAIN CHILD could be the recipient of up to $1.5 million from American Express*. PROJECT BRAIN CHILD will jump-start the development of a worldwide children's genomic brain tumor registry. This registry could help spare children the outdated, toxic, punishing AND ineffective treatments that they must now endure, allowing researchers to target existing `smart' drugs to specific brain tumors. Your vote could save children's lives, and provide a breakthrough for both children's and adult's cancer research. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, (no later than September 28th), PLEASE VOTE for Project Brain Child.

Go to HERE. Click on "log in" to access your American Express Account (non members, see ** below). Click on "View Complete List" Scroll down to Project Brain Child. Click on the `vote' star.

PLAY IT FORWARD…The power of YOUR vote is exponential if you SPREAD THE WORD! Send this email to your contact list, friends, family, colleagues, or any group where you might find votes for PROJECT BRAIN CHILD! OR post this email with your own personal appeal on your Facebook, My Space, Carepages, Caring Bridge page, You Tube, LinkedIn network, etc. and ask everyone to do the same.*American Express has embarked on an innovative philanthropic program, Members Project, which allows card members to help choose the recipients (a total of 5 grants will be awarded) of $2.5 million.**No Amex Card? You can still help by PLAYING IT FORWARD: Help us SPREAD THE WORD and get your friends, family, colleagues to vote.

Thank you.