Every year, from mid-January until February 14th, I put most things on hold and make a very special event my highest priority.

The event is called “A DAY FOR HEARTS: Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Day”

It is a worldwide effort by a group of dedicated professionals, parents and passionate supporters to spread the word about the serious issue of heart birth defects - and to generate support for children needing assistance to have congenital heart defects treated.

Since this is an issue close to my heart, I get energized and enthusiastic about working on it for 4 weeks. While asking others to help promote a product or tell their list about a new program or service I launch is sometimes daunting, I have never hesitated to ask for help with spreading CHD awareness.

And this is the only event for which I contact even total strangers, and ask if they can assist in some way.

This year’s efforts have been fruitful. Yesterday, a note about A DAY FOR HEARTS went out to a large mailing list with over 40,000 subscribers. Many popular bloggers and folks with extensive reach threw in their support and spread the word.

And equally important, many hundred others, with smaller contact lists but bigger hearts, did their bit to tell people they know about CHD Awareness Day.

Everyone is a part of this extensive effort to help save a child’s life. And I am deeply appreciative of your support with this. Thank you from my heart.

As we get closer to February 14th, just like every year in the past, one thought keeps running through my mind.

I could have asked a few more people.

I could have been more persistent and persuasive.

I could have done a little bit more.

I could have worked a bit harder on gathering support.

I could have made a bigger impact.

It is true. It will always be true. Rarely, if ever, do we give anything our very best shot.

What could you have done to spread CHD awareness?

See how you can help spread CHD awareness