Two local bloggers will write for 24-hours straight to benefit a local charity July 29, as part of Blogathon 2006.

Eric Siegmund, publisher of The Fire Ant Gazette (Fireantgazette.com), and Jimmy Patterson, editor of MyWestTexas.com and publisher of his personal blogs, Stickydoorknobs.typepad.com and theBREW (located at MyWestTexas.com) are working together to raise funds for Midland Fair Havens, a faith-based transitional housing facility for women and children.

Siegmund raised more than $1,500 during his 24-hour blogging journey in last year's blogathon. It is Patterson's first foray into such an effort. The amount Siegmund raised last year was one of the highest totals in the worldwide charitable event.

Blogathon 2006 begins at 8 a.m., July 29, and concludes 24 hours later. Participant bloggers are required to record a blog entry every 30 minutes for the duration of the blogathon.

Blogging is a form of citizen journalism on the Internet, begun a few years ago by self-described media watchdogs hoping to affect change. Now, with more than 50 million blogs globally, the media form has splintered off into new avenues and forms and is largely impossible to define. Mostly, blogs are either citizen watchdogs or people keeping personal journals, though there are many other examples of why people blog.

People wanting to donate to Siegmund's blog or to either of Patterson's can visit any of the three Web sites and follow the Blogathon links to make either a by-hour donation amount or a one-time contribution. There is a very brief registration process.

"Blogathon 2005 was an absolute blast and I had a lot of fun interacting with readers around the world," Siegmund said. "When you add in the fact that we're raising money for a wonderful local ministry, it becomes an opportunity too attractive to pass up."

Siegmund says he has no theme planned for his blogging, saying it's "too hard to focus on one thing, especially around 3 a.m."

"We will have even more contests, quizzes and prizes than last year, consisting mainly of Fire Ant Gazette merchandise," said Siegmund, whose Gazette merchandise goes by the the theme, "Cheap, but not inexpensive."

Patterson hopes to write a serialized piece of fiction throughout the 24 hours in an effort to keep readers coming back. He and MyWestTexas officials will also offer prizes to visitors through contests.

"The last time I stayed awake for 24 hours was in college, and I accomplished absolutely nothing worthwhile or long-lasting by doing it," Patterson said. "I hope I can stay awake and I hope to do so merely by wondering what song is up next on the iTunes shuffle. That should keep me going for awhile. After that, massive doses of caffeine, either mixed in with coffee, taken intravenously or by ingesting entire spoons full of Starbucks grounds."

Patterson said his family thinks he sits at the computer during large chunks of his day anyway, so doing it for 24 hours straight should be no different than most other days, they say.

Although both Siegmund and Patterson plan to do the large majority of blogging from their living rooms, they are also working on the possibility of blogging "on location" somewhere in Midland for several hours.

Blogathon was conceived in 2000 by Cat Conner, an Oregon-based blogger who sought to have some fun on her personal Web site. She has participated each year but this year is administering the Blogathon.org Web site instead of marathoning for 24 hours.

One hundred percent of donations raised through Siegmund's and Patterson's efforts through Blogathon 2006 go directly to Midland Fair Havens.

"I have seen Fair Havens have a dramatic difference in the lives of women who are coming out of abusive relationships but who want to make a life for themselves and for their children through education and faith-based living," said Patterson, a board member with the organization. "To think that Eric and I could have some small impact on the continuation of this ministry and its mission is an honor."