For 11 years I have been steadily working towards making a dream come true.

It is a dream that will save the lives of thousands of little children born with congenital heart defects. Kids from families so poor they have no chance of affording the expensive treatment necessary to treat their condition and keep them alive.

Looking back on the decade-long journey, these are the three principles that stand out as the most important in keeping any dream alive, turning it slowly into reality.

Passion. Purpose. Persistence.

Each of the 3 P’s is essential in a unique way. Together, they are the fuel that fire, sustain and enhance an ambitious, seemingly impossible mission to eliminate congenital heart disease, and help as many ‘heart kids’ as possible have another chance at life.

It is why I chose the theme of ‘Passion - Purpose - Persistence’ for the Heart Kids Tweet-a-thon this year.

And over the next 24 hours, I hope to explore the depth and power of these 3 principles, and reveal to you how important, effective and integral they are to the success of any mission, purpose or goal.

Hopefully, you will be able to harness that power in your own efforts to change the world - and make it a better place… in your own way!

Welcome to the 2008 Heart Kids Tweet-a-thon.