Just like those dance marathons of yore, we're asking our readers to pledge money for us as long as we keep dancing, or in this case as long as we keep driving. For every mile we drive during this year's trip from August 27 to September 6, 2008, you pledge an amount of money and at the end of the trip we'll total it all up, collect the pledges, and donate it all to one of three very worthwhile organizations.

So for instance, if you pledged a penny for every mile that we drive and we wind up driving 2,000 miles, you'll be donating $200 to the Plucky Pledge fund. Pledge any amount you want for any distance you want - a penny for every ten miles for instance or $1.00 for every fifty miles.

Just for reference purposes, Plucky Survivors 2008 will cover somewhere between 2,200 and 2,500 miles depending on how lost we get. If 25 people pledge a penny per mile, we could raise as much as $5,000!

Your donations will be split amongst the following charities:

• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• The Elton John AIDS Foundation
• The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Flood 2008 Fund