If you're like me and you've spent a lot of hours wishing that your parents had forced you to take up an instrument, then stop the whining and donate a couple of bucks to some kid whose parents can't afford to. Or, if you're like me and you're resistant to donating money to huge charities because you think most of your money will go to paying their jerky board members, then stop being so cynical and toss a few pennies to a school that's run by a rock star. He already GOT your money when you bought his records in college. He's giving your donation to the kids, their great teachers and probably rent! Or, if you're like me and you know you should do more but you don't because you've got your own bills to worry about, well, I've never run more than a 5K before and I'm running the L.A. Marathon for the Silverlake Conservatory. So, I'm asking you...

How about five bucks for the effort? Not five bucks a mile. Or five bucks if I finish. Just five bucks. Nobody's asking you to be a hero. Unless you are a hero, then you should probably give ten. Or more. Seriously, give more. Did I mention the race is on my birthday? You were going to spend five bucks on me anyway, right? So why not give it to the school?

In fact, as an added incentive, whoever makes the largest donation OVER five dollars, will be the winner of the glorious piece of chin carpet that I've been growing since my first day of training. That's right. My whole beautiful training beard will be yours! Scare your friends! Build a nest for local rats! Rent a spinning wheel and turn it into yarn and then knit a scarf for the local rats! The possibilities are endless. And most importantly, you'll be helping the kids. Come on!

So please, click on DONATE and give what you can. It's a great school, run by great people and they're helping great kids. Whatever you can give, I thank you very much.

-Mark


From Flea:

I couldn't be more proud to run in the 2011 Honda LA Marathon for Silverlake and with a team of amazing runners.

We've grown so much in the past 10 years. What started out as an effort to bring music programs into schools has grown into a music school in itself offering scholarships to children in the area.

Currently we have over 250 low-income (Title 1) students on scholarship, where they receive free music lessons and an instrument. It costs the Conservatory about $2,000 a year per student, or approximately $175 a month to provide these free music lessons.

The mission of the Conservatory is to facilitate basic music education for the youth of the community (ages 7-17) but all are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Kids need a place to go after school and during weekends where there is a positive influence and music is something that you can just throw yourself into.

Music saved my life and brought me great joy.

Please click DONATE now to support these programs and if you're running with me or want to run for our cause or even want to just help us fundraise...click JOIN THE TEAM.

Once you join the team, you'll become a team member for this fundraiser and can share your own page with your friends and family asking them to support this cause.

Our goal is for each runner to raise $1,000.

I know we can do this. Start today. Let's make a difference in these kids' lives.

Thank you!
Flea