Quick update: In order to help all of us track pledges I have added a form to my Blogathon page. I know that some of the other bloggers have solved this issue but for those of us who are not tracking the donations live (only getting totals at the end) we hope that those who would like to pledge our cause and keep us going will use this form.

Participants so far: Tania Morrison (Ottawa), Raul, Shane Gibson, Karen Hamilton, Ayeza Garcia, Isabella Mori, Danny Dang, Mehnaz Thawer, Jenn Lowther/Nadia Nascimento, Barbara Doduk, Chris Richardson, Colleen Vince

Blogathon Vancouver takes place this weekend (as seen this morning in the 24 Hours and last night on my Urban Rush segment) with participants starting at various times, check out any of the following blogs to lend your support simply by viewing, commenting, pledging or donating. Thank you to everyone in advance!

Due to unforeseen circumstances my Blogathon Vancouver campaign will now be taking on a later shift instead of my original 5:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday. My “1 post every 30 minutes for 24 hours” will begin upon my return so I’ll pick up the Blogathon on the fly and go until Sunday.

My cause of choice is the Union Gospel Mission in the downtown Eastside. They have been so accommodating in terms of getting their online donation page setup for Blogathon so I’m starting my fundraising early (as of right now).

Union Gospel Mission is a non-profit urban relief organization serving the Lower Mainland, providing hope for the hungry, hurting and homeless since 1940. [UGM]

Here is a sample from a post on their blog (The Street) that is eye-opening and inspiring.

As we make our way through the park, Arnie stops the van and turns all the lights on. He opens the doors and yells, “Are you hungry? Come out! Union Gospel Mission, we have food!” In that moment it hits me. We are in the middle of a park, just steps away from the downtown core of one of the world’s most opulent cities. There are people here that are lost and sleeping in the woods.

A few seconds later, a gentleman stumbles out of the forest. He tells us he has been lost. He thanks us for lighting his path but refuses any help we offer.

From the middle of the park we wind over to the water. Our searchlight combs the beach looking for hungry people sleeping on logs. We find someone. Arnie hops out and goes to wake him up. “Wake up man, I have some food for you,” he says as he gently wakes him. A cart beside him holds all his worldly possessions. He is filled with gratitude when our volunteer offers him a new, clean pair of socks.

It is a very warm evening and the beach is full of people. Some people criticize us. Some people praise us. But everyone notices us. Everyone we help is full of thanks. [TheStreet – UGM Blog]

There are currently FOUR ways you can support my Blogathon campaign:

If you are ready to donate immediately before the Blogathon starts this weekend, you can head directly to the UGM’s online donation page. When you’re there please choose “Miss604 Blogathon” from the appropriate dropdown.

If you would like to pledge a Blogathon campaign, please fill out this form. At the end of Blogathon you will be sent an email to remind you to follow through on the pledge and donate.

If you are a business you can donate $50 for a sponsored blog post or time slot to promote your company. Please contact me if you would like to donate for ad space.

If you are a blogger, you could write about the campaign – there is also a list of all other participating bloggers on my Blogathon Page.

This week will be rough for many but I am still very proud to be a part of something that will do so much good for so many non-profits and charities out there. If you have enjoyed my content over the years or even if you are a new reader, it would be great if you could help support this cause or the causes of the other bloggers. Thanks so much to everyone in advance.

Update: If you would like to help out the family you can contribute to a trust fund that has been put in place: remembering.randy [at] gmail.com via PayPal.

Sometimes life throws some real curveballs leaving things unsaid, unexplained, and all those affected in awe of its randomness.

Last Saturday I learned that my dear friend’s brother was killed in a motor vehicle accident. He was a husband, father, son and brother who was loved by all and could make you laugh and giggle with the flash of his genuine and kind-natured smile.

I first met him in the fall of 1997 when we hung out on the bleachers at Kwantlen Park while he charmed my best friend and I with his smooth talking and impressive skateboarding abilities. We were West Whalley girls and although he was from LA Matheson, that just made him even more enchanting to our impressionable teenage selves. But little did I know at the time how special a person he actually was.

The following year I started dating his brother (which lead to a five year relationship) and another year after that I met his sister, whom I still hang out with regularly to this day. During my relationship with his brother, naturally he was a part of my family and I even flew back from Boston when I was living there in order to attend his wedding.

He was a truly authentic and caring person who always saw the best in people and no one was more important to him than family.

Despite having the roughest of childhoods, losing a parent to cancer, and having countless odds stacked up in a row against him – he persevered. He married his sweetheart, bought a house, had two adorable sons and provided for his family in such an upstanding fashion. He was a touchstone for the rest of the family and his friends, always being the one to give a shoulder to cry on and to tell a joke when spirits needed lifting. He put all he had to making a life for his wife and children.

To be taken away at such a young age, with two little lives left without a father is a cruel turn of fate, leaving so many with questions. Illness, disease, tragedy and sorrow strike us at unexpected times taking the breath right from our lungs and the beats from our aching hearts.

I will not be posting (anywhere) for the rest of the day to provide some silence in my digital realm in an effort to best convey my sorrow and condolences for the family.

We’ll be heading out to Surrey again for some of this evening’s performances at Fusion Festival which will run from 11:00am until 8:00pm in Holland Park.

Leave the car at home as this is easily accessible from Surrey Central or King George Skytrain stations. Once again admission is free, and you may want to consider bringing a folding chair and some portable shade as it gets pretty toasty in the afternoon sun.

Last night the Fusion Festival kicked off in Surrey’s Holland Park with dusk performances and all anticipating this morning’s events, concerts, food, crafts and activities. Day two of the Fusion Festival will be going strong until 10:00pm tonight.

Tomorrow things will pick up again at 11:00am until the grand finale performance by Jully Black on the World Stage ending at 8:00pm. This event is entirely FREE for all (and it’s also super easy to get here from the SkyTrain) so come on down and join us.