It’s not too late to make a donation! Harvey may be talking again, but the need in Somalia is still great. Up until September 16, 2011, your gift will be matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian government.

Some people can't stop talking. Harvey McKinnon is one of them. In fact, some people say he's never been silent for more than one hour – and that includes while he’s sleeping.

Here's your opportunity to do a good thing. Sponsor him to keep quiet for 120 hours – five full days. And at the same time you'll make a donation to help famine victims in Somalia.

You’ve probably sponsored people who have run or walked for a charitable cause.

This is the same concept. But, for Harvey, staying silent is much harder than running, swimming or walking – in fact, it’s harder for him than just about anything.

Here's what he says:

I'm writing today to ask you to sponsor me to keep silent for five days.

And that's no easy task because, as you probably know, I usually can't stop talking.

But I hope you'll sponsor me today with a gift to help the famine victims in Somalia.

If you’ve seen recent news reports, you know how tragic the situation is. I'm raising money on behalf of Oxfam, which has a long history of grassroots work in the region. I know the organization well, having worked with them for 10 years. I've been a monthly donor to them for more than 30 years, and I still do consulting for them. They do great work.

In Somalia, Oxfam is providing water and sanitation to more than 230,000 people on the outskirts of Mogadishu. Throughout the rest of Somalia, Oxfam is reaching over 500,000 people through various programs which include direct cash relief for displaced families, water and sanitation services, and cash for work projects.

I hope today you will sponsor me for my 120 hours of silence.

Please sponsor me for 50 cents an hour, $1 an hour, whatever you can afford. It will help reduce the suffering of many individuals in Somalia.

It's a desperate situation. But I know in emergency situations like this, every dollar counts. And every dollar you give will be doubled with a matching grant from the Canadian government.

And to make sure that I honour my commitment to you to keep silent for five days, I'm actually going to a silent meditation retreat. My first ever! Which, I guarantee you, will be challenging. The well-known author and teacher, Vietnamese Buddhist, Thich Nhat Hanh is conducting a silent retreat at the University of British Columbia for five days, and I'll be there. Quiet as a mouse.

So please, sponsor me to be quiet. Not only will the world be a quieter place, but more importantly, you'll help save a life.

Harvey

P.S.  I would greatly appreciate if you pass this around and post it on your Facebook site or do whatever you can to help raise money for this important cause.

P.P.S. I'm adding this mini biography so that if you pass it on to other friends they'll know who I am.

Harvey McKinnon is an author and fundraiser who lives in Vancouver. He's helped raise hundreds of millions of dollars for good causes over the last 30 years. He is the co-author of the international bestseller, The Power of Giving: How Giving Back Enriches Us All. All royalties from this book are donated to charities. It has been translated into 10 languages. He rarely stops talking.