Hey CCL-ers! For those of you who might be coming into this late, I'd like to tell you a little about a little Christmas project that's become very near and dear to our hearts and yours.

My youngest son was born with Down's Syndrome and had open heart surgery at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital when he was just 2 weeks old. This hospital did an amazing job and to this day, I'm incredibly thankful and grateful to the Vanderbilt staff for everything they did and the care and love they showed our family.

In 2008, I found a Christmas tree at a local children's playcenter that was looking for donations for Vanderbilt Children's Hospital and to my surprise, there were no gifts under the tree. I found this unacceptable and took it upon myself to adopt the tree. I asked the CCL membership for monetary donations to purchase items they were asking for on the tree and in 4 days, we raised almost $400...and due to the tenacity and goodwill of the membership, here we are five years later and due to the request of YOU guys, we are going to do it again.









CCL's 5th ANNUAL MARATHON TOY DRIVE begins TODAY and runs through midnight DECEMBER 7th, 2012.

Here's how it works and how you can help:

A) Send a monetary donation of ANY amount (preferably $10 or more) through PAYPAL to: CCL4KIDS@MIDTENMEDIA.COM. 100% of your donation will go to purchasing items directly from Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Wish List. These items will be purchased by me and delivered by me directly to the doors of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital on December 13th at 11am. Again, please note that I DO NOT KEEP ONE PENNY OF YOUR DONATED MONEY and all of your donations will go towards buying items for the hospital.

B) You can send donation items directly to our office via mail:

CCL MARATHON TOY DRIVE
c/o The Valiant One
131 Sanders Ferry Rd
Suite B
Hendersonville, TN
37075

Please note if you go this route that your items MUST be received NO LATER than December 7th, 2012. You can review the Vanderbilt Wish List and see for yourself what they are asking for. PLEASE DO NOT SEND COMICS OR ACTION FIGURES!!! The list contains more basic needs to accomodate children in need of a potential lengthy hospital stay.

C) You can also help by simply spreading the word by posting on your Facebook page, website, podcast, blog or whatever you can do to help get the word out.

Every year, I try to push our goal a little higher than the year before...so this year, our goal is $800.

This year, we will be combining the CCL GIVEAWAY CONTEST with the MARATHON TOY DRIVE. Watch this thread for more information on the prize.

Remember...it was YOU...the membership...that asks me every year to do the contest a little earlier AND really aim high. So that's what I'm doing this year. I'm counting on YOU to really make our FIFTH year of doing this the best year yet.

If anyone has any questions/comments suggestions, please feel free to post them here OR send them directly to me directly through private message. You can also e-mail me at: steve_midten@hotmail.com.

Thanks and let the fun begin! Merry Christmas, God Bless and let's get started!!!

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$135 in donations! Keep them rolling in!



Remember, this is our 5th year of doing this. Every year you guys ask me to do this a little earlier and here we are! Send donations to CCL4KIDS@MIDTENMEDIA.COM! Help me spread the word and let's make the best year ever!

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Steve, I regret that I will not be able to help out this year as I have in the past. The double storms that have damaged my property and my mother's home has drained all my available resources and then some. I support you in spirit and will help out if possible, but don't count on it this year. I really feel terrible about this because it's such a great cause and you do a super job.---Pat

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Pat, you've been such a big help to us in the past that you have totally paid your dues in this regard dude.

Anyone that can help me get the word out on the fundraiser is a BIG help as well.

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We're now at $400 which means we're officially at the HALFWAY mark!



$400 more to go!

Please send your gift/donation to CCL4KIDS@MIDTENMEDIA.COM via PAYPAL by DECEMBER 7th! It's our 5th year so let's make it our BEST!

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I hope you hit you're goal, good luck...Don

Just sent a 20 back to ya! Hope it helps!

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* All items must be returned prior to refund at your expense. Return shipping not refunded.

There ya go. Get them some super sweet stuff!

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R.I.P. Bob Morales

Dude, that was an extremely generous donation and you have my personal thanks.

And now I can post these words:

GOAL!!!!!!

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Today is the FINAL day for donations for the CCL MARATHON TOY DRIVE..and what a drive it's been so far.

We made the $800 goal a few days back and we're sitting at a cool $840...but is it possible we could hit $900???

Help make the 5th year the BEST year! Just need another $60 and we're in a good spot to really make a sizable donation this year to Vanderbilt Hospital :)

Send PAYPAL donations to CCL4KIDS@MIDTENMEDIA.COM! Some of you have donated, many have read this post, ALL ARE WELCOME.

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