Two days left: Join the Ali Edwards fundraising drive for autism research

Twenty-four days ago, we were impressed when we found out that Ali Edwards had encouraged 340 people to donate $9000 for autism research and advocacy.

Eight days ago, it was amazing when the actor Kevin Bacon mentioned her fundraising drive on the Ellen Degeneres Show - and 400 more people donated $6000. (Video here.)

Now, we're completely blown away here at BlueOregon HQ. Nearly 1400 people have donated over $31,000 to Ali's autism fundraising challenge.

There's just two days left. Without further ado, we'll turn the mike over to Ali:

All along with this contest I have been saying "we." It is "we" because there is no way I could do this alone. I am one person: a mama, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a person who works from their home, a life artist - just an everyday person trying to do something positive with what I have been given. It takes all of us reaching out, all of us putting out the effort to achieve this goal. We are a bunch of individuals working together for the greater good. ...

As the contest draws to a close on Saturday night, I imagine that the numbers are really going to start to climb on all the badges. We need to keep moving forward at the same awesome pace we have been over the last week.

If you have been waiting to make your donation, now is the time. If you have been thinking about emailing your friends and family and co-workers, now is the time. Post it on your blogs and on message boards you frequent. Now is the time to connect with others out there to take this to the next level. One person to the next, to the next, to the next.

Go team, go.

If Ali's "charity badge" stays in the top six on the Six Degrees challenge, Kevin Bacon will donate $10,000 himself to Autism Speaks. It's not the amount, it's the number of donations. Donate your $10 now.