Did you know that a child dies every 20 seconds from a disease that could be prevented with a vaccine?

Did you know that 75% of unvaccinated children live in just 10 countries?

Did you know that by simply leaving blog comments or sharing posts during the month of August, you can give a child a shot at a healthy life?

This year, I have the honor of contributing to Blogust — a month-long blog relay organized by Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation. Every time you comment on or share a Blogust post during August 2014, Walgreens will donate a vaccine to a child, up to 60,000 vaccines.

I’ve been an enthusiastic participant in Blogust since it launched in 2012. I’ve left comments all over the place. Knowing that each one unlocked a vaccine donation was powerful, but even more powerful was the feeling of joining with thousands of others to do it together. Getting to be one of this year’s storytellers…well, that’s amazing.

Blogust begins today, but my Blogust post, about a Healthy and Happy First in my life, goes live on Parent Hacks on August 6, 2014.

My goal is for us is to provide 500 vaccine donations. That means a combined total of 500 comments and/or social shares via those "Tweet" and "Like" links at the bottom of my post on August 6.

It’s an ambitious number — 500 is more comments and/or shares than any Parent Hacks post has ever received — but I’m aiming high because I know we can do it. PARENTHACKER POWERS ACTIVATE.

Mark your calendars and get ready to share or comment on my Parent Hacks Blogust post on August 6.

In the meantime, there’s something you can do right now: read and comment on or share the first Blogust 2014 post at the Shot@Life blog, or watch for the #Blogust hashtag on Twitter and Instagram. 

Today, Blogust alums from 2012 and 2013 are sharing words and images, and all of your comments and social shares on those posts equal vaccines! I’m logging in while on vacation so I can retweet #Blogust tweets and "heart" and comment on Instagram photos as much as I can!

Thank you, friends. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could be part of 60,000 children’s healthy futures?

To see the full schedule of Blogust participants, visit shotatlife.org/blogust.