Thursday, December 20, 2007

America's Giving Challange!

HELP ME WIN $50,000 FOR A CHARITY THAT IS
IMPORTANT TO ME AND MILLIONS OF OTHERS!

I am taking the America’s Giving Challenge sponsored by
Parade Magazine and The Case Foundation. They are awarding $50,000 to each of eight charities whose supporters get the most people to donate to their cause. In order to win, it is not the amount of the donations that count, but the number of people who donate, even small amounts. So you can help me win $50,000 for my cause by making even a very small donation!

My cause is
The Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC). TLC works to raise awareness, maintain a support network, treatment referral base and raise funds for research into the causes, treatment and finding a cure for Trichotillomania (chronic hair pulling). It is estimated that 1.5 – 4% of the population, or 4 to 11 million people in the U.S alone, including children, adolescents, and adults of all backgrounds, suffer with Trichotillomania (TTM or “trich”).

I’ve become very passionate about the work that is provided by TLC because my 13-year old daughter has been suffering with “trich” since age 7. Being the father of a daughter that has TTM has been very difficult. I have done everything to help my daughter but nothing would stop her from pulling. I have felt shame and embarrassment and in some ways failure as a parent. How could I help my daughter? How could I ever understand what is going on inside her head? A few years ago my wife attended the National TLC Conference in Orlando, Florida with my daughter and they both came home with a better understanding of “trich” and learned we weren’t alone in dealing with this disorder. This past year’s conference was held in Arlington, Virginia. My wife suggested that I attend the conference with my daughter. Candidly, I didn’t see the point. What am I going to gain? Will my daughter stop pulling? Well, I was wrong! I not only met other parents in similar situations, watched my daughter hang out with other kids with “trich” without being judged and I learned a lot about “trich”. I met so many wonderful people and spent quality time with my daughter discussing her issues with TTM. I heard unbelievable stories from people that have TTM that broke my heart. Attending the conference was not only liberating for me as a parent but a life changing experience and I have TLC to thank.

Through its national conferences, retreats, workshops and support groups, as well as online resources and parent support Yahoo group, TLC has given me hope that my daughter will learn to control her pulling and a cure can be found.*

Help me get $50,000 for TLC!
Please click the donate button on the charity badge in the right column to donate now!

The deadline is January 31, 2008 at 3pm EST.
I encourage you to give now rather than put it off and risk missing the deadline.

Together, we can make a difference!