I am turning 40 this fall and marking the milestone by hiking 200 miles across Northern Spain.  I will be following the 1,200-year-old Camino Primitivo (“The Original Way”), the oldest of the UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage routes that lead to Santiago de Compostela.  I am looking forward to this opportunity to not only “unplug” and reflect, but also to support a cause that is incredibly important to me.

And that’s where you come in.

*** My Ask of You: Please Donate Blood ***

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood and/or platelets, and one donation can potentially save up to three lives.  An overwhelming majority of recipients are individuals battling cancer or chronic illness, and it’s very likely that either you or a loved one will benefit from a blood donor in your lifetime.  I learned this firsthand when, a few years ago, a stranger’s decision to donate blood saved the life of someone very close to me. I am forever grateful to them.

I am teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a “Sleeves Up” virtual blood drive and asking friends, family, and professional colleagues to pledge to give blood and provide a lifesaving gift for patients in need.

My goal is to recruit one pledge for every mile that I will hike in Spain – 200 blood donors for 200 miles – by the date I am due to arrive in Santiago de Compostela: Wednesday, September 28.

To get started, make your pledge by clicking the red button above, and then visit redcrossblood.org to schedule your donation appointment.  You can give at a locally hosted blood drive or at a permanent Red Cross blood donation center.

*** Simply Put ***

By taking an hour of your life to donate blood, you can save somebody’s life.

Thank you in advance for giving.