Trouble

Nothing troubles me much in life thanks to having perspective but this is the kind of thing I have a hard time with: small children losing their parents. Between this family and Randy Pausch's family (he's the college professor who became famous for his Last Lecture and who passed away on Friday after battling cancer), I've met my heartache quota pretty good this week.

Last March, Kristi Yamaguchi was celebrated for becoming a contestant on Dancing with the Stars – but in her personal life, the Olympic Gold Medalist and her husband, NHL star Bret Hedican, were mourning the loss of their good friend Patrick Brandt.

Brandt, a childhood pal of Hedican's, succumbed to a brain tumor and left behind a wife and two young children on March 2, 2008 in Mahtomedi, Minn. He was 37 years old.

On August 21, Yamaguchi and Hedican will host The Patrick Brandt Live Life, Give Love Celebration benefit concert and silent auction at The Myth Nightclub in Maplewood, Minn., to raise money for Brandt's family.

"Patrick was one of those guys who had a great sense of humor and a really positive outlook," Hedican tells PEOPLE of his friend. "He touched so many people with his positiveness. We want to celebrate his life, which ended far too early."

Rob Thomas headlines the show, which will also feature performances by Dancing pros Mark Ballas and Derek Hough's band, Almost Amy. Yamaguchi and Ballas, Dancing's season six champs, will also perform a dance or two.

Patrick Brandt with his wife Jesse and sons Wesley, 5, and Charlie, 2.

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, go to livelifegivelove.com.

How one explains to these boys, especially the 5 year-old, that their Daddy is gone, I just don't know. My heart really goes out to them.

On the website it says:

If you cannot attend the event but would like to support the Brandt family by giving a donation to the Live Life Give Love celebration, click the Donate button below. Your generous contributions will be used to establish an educational trust for Wes and Charlie, and to ensure that Pat's wife Jesse can continue to give these beautiful boys a life filled with love, laughter and joy.

This is the PayPal link here to donate, if you feel so inclined. If not, at least pass it on as someone else may be.

Also, if you haven't yet seen it, you can see the Last Lecture by clicking on here: Randy Pausch. It is an hour and 16 minutes, I believe, and MORE than well worth your time.