The 50 in 52 Project: An Open Letter

AN OPEN LETTER:

I need your help.

I’ve known women who have been raped. I’ve known women and men who’ve been sexually abused or assaulted; I’ve known people who’ve survived incest. I bet many of you do as well. A majority of these people never receive the help they need. Many of them shove those experiences way, way down. RAINN (the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) is dedicated to helping these survivors. After Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony to the Senate, calls to RAINN’s hotline number, which offers confidential support services, went up 338%, which is astounding. Besides the hotline (also available online), RAINN.org works to educate the public and acts as a nonpartisan advocacy group.

I started the 50 in 52 Project Reading Challenge fundraiser because I thought I needed to give back. So many people have helped me or supported me since I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2002. I felt I owed a debt. RAINN seemed to be the right organization for me to help. The idea was to challenge myself to read 50 books in 1 year (I made a list of classics), and I’d ask folks to sponsor me by pledging a $ amount per book read—any amount. No one would have to pay until my Reading Year was up, which is June 1, 2019. I had NO idea how stressful it would be to read 50 books in 1 year—it’s been fun but crazy! WELL, I JUST FINISHED BOOK #25—HALFWAY THERE!

Would you please sponsor me? You don’t have to pay until June (and you’ll get a receipt for your taxes). To sponsor me, click HERE. For more info and a list of the 50 books, go to the posting pinned to the top of the official 50 in 52 Facebook page.

Thank you so much for joining me, sponsoring me, and believing in me.

Michael-Patrick Harrington

#RAINN
#50-in-52-Project