[simple simon]

When Alex Mercier isn't playing football, he's usually making music. Combining his two loves, the Washington wide receiver was able to give some seriously ill children and their parents a lift.

His compact disc ''Husky Nation'' went on sale at Husky Stadium when the season opened. All proceeds from sales of the $7 disc benefit Soulumination, a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that provides free, professional photography of children facing life-threatening illnesses.

As the Huskies prepared for the season, Mercier was also was writing much of the album containing six rap tracks by him and teammates Quintin Daniels, Marlon Wood and Chris Hemphill. Mercier mixed the sound during 11-hour days in a recording studio. And he promoted the project with fliers that he addressed and mailed throughout Puget Sound and beyond.

Huskies Make CD for Terminally Ill Kids

its so great to see good stories