The Gift of 40

I received this mail from Sujatha at www.blogpourri.com (blogpourri@gmail.com)

Hello all,

I am writing to you to tell you about a special project a group of us
has been working on.

I turned 40 this year and each year millions of people around the
world celebrate their 40th birthday, but in places like Lesotho in
southern Africa, the average life expectancy is under 40. A small
group of people has launched the Gift of 40 Campaign to change that.

Most people are surprised when they hear they are outliving the
average life expectancy anywhere. And yet, sadly, it is the case for
millions of people in a handful of developing nations, including
Lesotho.

In the developed world, and in particular in American popular media,
turning 40 is often depicted as a marker of middle age. Reaching 40 is
rarely described in the historically accurate terms we believe it
ought to be -- as an achievement by individuals and the societies in
which we live. And it's not just an achievement, it's a gift. Like
other gifts, we believe it is one best shared.

Not only does Gift of 40 aim to raise funds for PIH's Lesotho Project
from people around the world, it also serves to remind people that it
is truly a gift to live to 40 and beyond.

Please join my Gift of 40 campaign - and help others reach their 40th
birthdays. I am taking part in the Gift of 40 Campaign to support
Partners In Health's programs in Lesotho. By providing comprehensive
medical care and comprehensive social services, PIH works to help
others reach this same milestone.
What You Can Do
If 40 of my friends contribute $40 in honor of my 40th birthday, I
will raise $1,600 for PIH's programs in Lesotho. Please give your gift
to my Gift of 40 Campaign by going to this page -
https://donate.pih.org/page/outreach/view/Giftof40/Sujatha - and
clicking on the "Click Here to Donate" button. You can donate in any
currency via credit card, Pay Pal, wire transfer or by mail.
Interested in spreading the Gift of 40 to celebrate the birthday of a
loved one? Click "Create Your Own Page Now" at the above link and
start raising support for PIH's work in Lesotho. And then pass it
on--especially to others turning 40 who will want to help others do
the same. I hope you will spread the word via your own blogs, Twitter
pages, Facebook, Orkut, Myspace, etc.
If you have any questions at all, please let me know. I'd be happy to
answer them.

Thank you!
Sujatha

The Gift of 40 Campaign: http://www.giftof40.com

Read our Mission Statement: http://giftof40.blogspot.com

Follow Us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/giftof40