I know, as always, that each of you has causes that are near and dear to your heart, and I respect that. I am writing now to ask you to spare a moment to think about one that is near and dear to mine, and that is healthy babies.

Never has there been a happier moment in my life than the moment when I first held my beautiful, healthy, full term child. (Okay, at 41.1 weeks gestation, he was a little past “term.”) The March of Dimes has as their mission to make that moment possible for all babies some day- to be born healthy and full term. In support of that mission, they conduct an annual fund and awareness raising event called the March for Babies.

YOU CAN HELP! Join a walk near you by visiting the March for Babies page. Invite everyone you know to walk with you. Or just make a donation in support of someone who is walking. (Keep reading- I have a proposition for you!)

As of this writing, the March for Babies (April 25) is 53 days away. I am pledging (right here, right now, in front of the internet) to walk 100 miles by 4/25/2010. (Ian will join me for a great many of these miles.)

I am pledging that I will personally donate 25 cents for each of the 100 miles I walk. If, for some reason, I fall short of 100 miles, I will donate one dollar for every mile I DON’T walk. (Thar’s motivation for ya…)

I will post here, in this blog, photos and stories of our training walks. If we were to walk those 100 miles consecutively, I could walk from my home to Gettysburg, PA, and I’ll be charting my virtual course as I log my miles, as well. I hope you’ll join me (literally and figuratively!) on my trip.

Here’s where you come in: Make your own pledge. Can you walk 50 miles in 50 days to help save babies? How about 25? You can kill two birds with one stone- let everyone know you are walking to help save babies, AND get in shape so you can enjoy the summer fun even more. I am challenging all Joy Makin’ Mamas and Papas everywhere, whether you are Joy Troupe members or not, to join our team (or start your own) and help us make a difference.

If you are not walking in a March, or you don’t feel up to making a mile pledge of your own, I am asking all of you to help me and Ian save babies by pledging your own dollar amount (I don’t care if it’s a penny a mile, but… maybe you could see your way clear to a nickel at least?) to donate for each mile we walk while we “train” for the march for Babies. You can donate online by clicking on our badge, below, or, yes, you can donate via cash or check and I’ll turn it in on 4/25 when we go marching, marching…