Yes, it is Earth Week however there is another reason why I’m going green……

It’s finally here!  The UN Global Immunization Week and the launch of the UN Foundation’s program, Shot@Life.  After months of planning, hard work and enthusiasm, Shot@Life is finally going to be pushed front and forward into the hearts and minds of fellow Americans and the world through the grass-roots efforts of the 45 Shot@Life Champions like myself as well as the support and strength of the UN Foundation.

It’s going to be a great week and for the entire week, I’m going GREEN!  Yes, remember that green Shot@Life t-shirt I wore back in January?  If you don’t here it is below.

I’m going to be wearing this baby all week long as a walking, talking, enthusiastic advocate for Shot@Life, and I can hardly wait.

I know that I’ve talked about Shot@Life before.  In fact, I’ve written several posts on the importance and value of providing global vaccines to the developing world.  If you want to check out all my older posts, click here.

Instead, I want to reiterate my commitment, enthusiasm and passion for working as an advocate for Shot@Life.  I want to tell you why I do it, why it is important to me and what you, my readers can do to help spread the world and help saves children’s lives around the globe by providing life-saving global vaccines.

Why did I become a Shot@Life advocate and volunteer?  Simple.

I care.  I am a mother myself who would give anything for my children, including my own life.  Family is the most important thing in the world.  Everyone should get a shot at a healthy life.

 ”The fact that 1 in 5 children around the world does not have access to the vaccines they need to survive” is a darn right injustice and inequity in the world that is relatively easy and cost-effective to solve.

Why am I optimistic about the future?  Because I know it is possible to save millions of lives by providing these vaccines.  Vaccines are proven as the best way to keep children alive.

Did you know that a child dies every 20 seconds in a developing country of a disease that can be prevented by a vaccine?

This fact alone is a tragedy.  However, it is a tragedy that can be solved: It takes a mere $20, less than two tickets to a movie or the price of a large pizza, to provide the four vaccines that will protect and save a child for life.  Twenty dollars.  That is all.  If I sit and think of how easy it is to spend twenty dollars, it is heartbreaking.  To us, twenty dollars is nothing.  To many people around the world, twenty dollars is a life or death.  A shot at life.

How global vaccines and Shot@Life hit home for me.

Simple.

Without life-saving vaccines, my children would never had a chance for a shot@life and a way to reach these amazing milestones that is the joy and amazement of parenting.

Some moms walk 15 miles with their children on their backs just to receive the vaccines necessary to save their child’s life.  15 miles.

I can think of 15 milestones that have stuck with me that I would not have wanted to miss.  Here they are…..

One:  First winter walk. 

Two:  First day home from the hospital. 

Three:  First summer. 

Four:  First walk around the lake. 

Five:  First car. 

Six:  First steps.

Seven:  First attempt at Christmas Card picture. 

Eight:  First time dressing herself. 

Nine:  First Halloween. 

Ten:  First time dressing up as Fancy Nancy.  

Eleven:  First time swimming in the lake in the fall. 

Twelve:  First day of preschool. 

Thirteen:  First day of kindergarten and a lost tooth!

Fourteen:  Seven years old and seventh lost tooth!

Fifteen:  First family hike. 

My daughter Sophia will be reaching a huge milestone this fall.  She will be headed off to Kindergarten….

I could never be so happy and lucky to have such a wonderful, loving family.

The number of children dying every year from preventable diseases in developing countries is nearly equivalent to half the children entering kindergarten in the U.S.

That fact alone is enough to make me do what ever I humanly can to advocate for Shot@Life.  Why should only our children be able to reach these milestones?  Isn’t it our duty to help others and give them the shot at life they deserve?  I think so.

What you can do to help save a life?

Advocate:  It is quick, easy and best of all, free!  Here is what you can do right now to help the cause and save a life.

1. Spread the word:  Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site you have.  Like the post and comment if you desire.
2. “Like” Shot@Life on Facebook.  Click here.
3. Write to your Members of Congress or local governments telling them how you support global vaccines and Shot@Life.
4. Join Shot@Life.  It’s free.  Visit webpage and sign up! 

Please help me spread the word about Shot@Life and help Save a life!

~Prepared by Jill Barth.