NEWSLETTER
It’s time! Time to get together and do something crazy to provide you over-the-top coverage and also make a REAL positive impact in the world! And this year, there’s a new twist! How could there not be a twist in 2020? I’m still gonna power through to the Trade Deadline like always, but the BN Blogathon is going to become the BN Dogathon. Short version? Donate to Make-A-Wish, make me eat an insane number of hot dogs at the Trade Deadline.
Each of the last nine 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, then for 37 hours straight in 2014, then for 38 hours straight in 2015, then for 39 hours straight in 2016, then for 40 hours straight in 2017, then for another 40 hours straight in 2018 (plus you made me get a tattoo DURING the Blogathon), and then another 40 hours last year.
We had some fun, got excited about some trade action, and, most importantly, you supported a great cause. Through your efforts over past Blogathons, you’ve raised more than $133,000 for Make-A-Wish to transform your passion for baseball into some real, impactful good in this world.
Bleacher Nation is partnering with Make-A-Wish® Illinois, a tremendous organization that does so much good in this world, including for young Cubs fans. 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 my usual thing at the Trade Deadline, but it’s up to you to really get me there for the fullest and craziest experience.
I’ve known for a little while now that I couldn’t safely do the normal no-sleep-up-for-40-hours-straight thing this year. With the kids and The Wife going back to school, our risks of exposure to COVID-19 are going to go up slightly, and I can’t justify crushing my body’s immune system with no rest for two days. I love doing it for the theater of it, but it does leave me physical wrecked for a little while. This year, I’m sorry, I just can’t risk it.
BUT I WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU HANGING LIKE THAT! You know I have to do SOMETHING crazy.
So here’s the twist this year: I’m still gonna do the two days of marathon blogging/video’ing/tweeting like always – with a little nighttime nap in the middle – but I will eat nothing but different kinds of hot dogs for the entire two-day process. AND, I’m going to eat as many hot dogs as you make me eat!
For every $500 we can raise for Make-A-Wish, that’s another hot dog I have to eat. Honestly, I figure 12 or so over two days sounds pretty awful by the time I get to number 7, but I set our fundraising goal at $10,000 … so you can do the math. And hey, if we raise more than that, well, then I will keep going. I’m willing to get nuts (or puke trying). This is brand new and I’ve never done anything like this, so I have no idea how it’s going to go. I will share it with you every step of the way.
Oh, also? When you make donations, I hope some of you will also include recommendations for ridiculous types of hot dogs I should eat. I am nothing if not susceptible to peer pressure when it’s for a good cause!
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 Dogathon fundraiser page, and make your donation there by clicking on the “DONATE NOW” 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 with hot dogs aplenty.
Thank you for your attention, your support, and for telling your friends and family about this fundraiser!
