How Would You Like to Force Me to Blog for 38 Straight Hours at the Trade Deadline?

You folks have cost me a lot of sleep, and a marble or two, the last few years. And I love you for it.

That’s because at each of the last four MLB Trade Deadlines, your generous support forced me to blog for 24 hours straight back in 2011, then for 30 hours straight in 2012, then for 36 hours straight in 2013, and then for 37 hours straight last year.

We had some fun, got excited about some trade action – last year was crazy! – and, most importantly, you supported a great cause. Through your efforts over past Blogathons, you’ve raised nearly $29,000 for Make-A-Wish to transform your passion for baseball into some real, tangible good.

Let’s do it again this year, and I’ll even offer to tack on yet another hour to the Blogathon.

Bleacher Nation is partnering with Make-A-Wish® Illinois. The mission of Make-A-Wish is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. Make-A-Wish cannot accomplish that mission without the help and support of others, and that’s where you come in.

I’m going to do a Blogathon at the Trade Deadline, but it’s up to you to really get me there. So let’s make a deal.

I’ll commit right now to blogging for 24 hours straight leading up to the Trade Deadline on July 31. No breaks. No sleep. Constant coverage. Writing. Tweeting. Commenting. Videos. The run-up to the deadline is among the most important times in the baseball season, and I intend to go crazy covering everything out there during the BN Blogathon on July 30 and 31. You’re getting 24 hours right now, guaranteed.

But who wants 24 hours when you can have 32 hours? Or 38 hours?

If you folks collectively donate $6,000 – the cost of sponsoring a child’s wish – by July 30, I’ll step that 32 hours straight. And if you really dig deep, and we go over that $6,000 mark, I’ll tack on an additional hour for every $1,000 you generous folks donate, all the way up to $12,000, or 38 hours total (yes, that’s one hour longer than last year).

Although I’m going to cap the Blogathon at 38 hours, there’s no limit on the amount we can raise together. You probably remember The Hat from last year’s Blogathon, and, if we start getting close to the $12,000 level, I’m sure you’ll think of something else crazy I can do to merit your donations above that level.

Every dollar raised will go straight to Make-A-Wish, and the intent is that the funds will be used to grant a wish to a child who wishes for an experience related to the Chicago Cubs. We all love the Cubs, and it would be pretty amazing to help a child do something that will deepen his/her own love of the Cubs.

It’s up to you to make this happen.

Here’s how you donate:

Go to the BN Blogathon fundraiser page, and make your donation there by clicking on the “Donate to This Fundraiser” button.

Make-A-Wish is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, so, to the extent you were wondering, financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Just throwing that out there.

This is win-win for you, my friends. By giving whatever you can, you not only help change the life of a child and his or her family, but you also ensure ridiculous, over-the-top coverage at the Trade Deadline. The bonus is seeing if I can make it to 32 or 38 hours without singing to my cats. On camera. Again.

Thank you for your attention, your support, and for telling your friends and family about this fundraiser. Here’s a look back at the two young fans we helped in 2013 with the fundraiser.