Tom Serratore, a redshirt sophomore goalkeeper at Valparaiso University (VU) and St. Baldrick’s volunteer event organizer and shavee, proudly wears his #30 jersey to help celebrate raising $30 million for St. Baldrick’s to help cure childhood cancer!

After his friend, Joey Malak, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia their junior year of high school, Tom knew he had to get involved and wanted to find a way to honor and support Joey. He began volunteering with St. Baldrick’s and participating in its signature head-shaving events, including the event at Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Illinois.

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A few months ago, I happened to catch part of an interview on the radio with Willie Nelson. Must have been NPR or something, I don’t completely remember, but I do know that he was asked if he could recall the single greatest moment of his life.

He hemmed and hawed a bit and eventually settled on something great with a lowercase g, something mundane and everyday, like playing with his kids, or walking with his wife, or performing on a stage (everyday for him, at least).

Now, it’s likely that Willie Nelson simply can’t remember every hazy, blurred-by-pot moment of his life. But it’s also possible that sometimes the “best” moments are just moments, the simple everyday interactions with those we love: sitting on the porch with great friends eating delicious food, drinking wine and laughing til your stomach hurts. Or snuggling up in bed with your two sweet boys on a lazy Sunday morning. Or knowing, in a quiet easy sort of way, that you picked the right man with whom to spend the rest of your life.

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For the third year in a row, players on the El Paso Rhinos Ice Hockey Team in El Paso, Texas, gathered to participate in a head-shaving event, standing in solidarity with the thousands of children who are in treatment for cancer.

This year, they honored one of their own.

Katie, a 15-year-old Rhino bantam player, was diagnosed last year with alveolar rhabdomysarcoma, a type of childhood cancer.

Katie first noticed a bump on her leg while playing hockey. A month later, the bump had gotten bigger, and her parents took her to the doctor. A tumor was discovered in her leg, and a CT scan revealed the cancer in her leg, hip, shoulder, and spine.

“As a team and as an organization, the St. Baldrick’s event really brings the Rhino family closer together,” says Tom Herman, Director of Youth Hockey and assistant coach for the Rhinos.

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By Jessica Brown, AVP, Strategic Marketing & Business Development, AmWINS Group, Inc.

AmWINS Group, Inc. has always been an organization with heart. For years, our individual offices have initiated efforts to give back to their local communities – from toy drives to sending military care packages overseas, AmWINS employees have continually shown a commitment to serving others inside and outside of the office.

After looking at all of our tremendous efforts in offices spanning the globe, we began to realize that if we committed to a cause together as an organization, we could really make a difference – all of our offices working as a team for a common purpose!

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Leukemia survivor and three-time shavee Carolyn Koncal shares her experience as a teen with cancer and tells us why she thinks Bald is Beautiful.

In January 1994, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of childhood cancer. I was 14 years old and in the 8^th grade. Being diagnosed as a teen wasn’t easy. I became isolated from my friends and classmates, my priorities in life changed, and people treated my differently because I was the “girl with cancer.”

I was losing control over my life, when my friends were gaining control and independence in theirs. I had to stop going to school due to the risk of getting sick, and I got a tutor just so I could graduate on time. I spent my days in a hospital or at home alone. When I did get to spend time with my friends, no one knew what to say, and I grew apart from them.

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Scott Diede, M.D., Ph.D., a St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, explains alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma symptoms, treatment options, and research opportunities.

What is alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma?

There are two main types of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of childhood cancer: embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

• Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) occurs most often in children under 10 years old and is found in the head, neck, urinary tract, or reproductive organs. It is the most common type.
• Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is more aggressive, occurs more commonly in teens or young adults, and usually starts in the torso, arms, or legs.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue cancer in children, with approximately 350 new cases each year in the United States.

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Motherhood is a sweet privilege.
Having a child with cancer is a cruel torture.
My daily reality: Being “that” mother who lost her child to cancer.

Four years ago, during the latter stages of Jordan’s cancer treatments for alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, our family was invited to be the PGA’s special guests at “The Players” Championship Golf Tournament in Jacksonville, Florida.

That would be my last Mother’s Day with Jordan.

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The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a proud charity partner in the Naperville Marathon for 2013! The race is closed to new participants, but a limited number of charity slots are available. When you reserve a charity slot with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation you must commit to raising a minimum of $200 for childhood cancer research, and in return you will not only receive entry to this sold out race, but will get 50% off any Naperville Marathon entry fee and a free race jersey.

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In less than five months, the St. Baldrick’s community has raised more than $29 million for childhood cancer research!

Our friends at AmWINS Group, Inc. are kicking off their shoes to celebrate this success and help raise even more money for the cause through their casual and flip-flop days. Since 2011, AmWINS has raised $28,000 for childhood cancer research through their Casual to Conquer fundraisers.

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by Angeline Rose Troy

Finding ways to cure childhood cancers is something I’ve felt very strongly about ever since I was a little girl and my friend, Michelle, was diagnosed with leukemia. She was 7 years old.

Michelle began chemotherapy, and when she began to lose her lovely long blonde locks, she made the decision to shave the rest of her hair completely off. I thought it would be scary for her, but she took each day in stride.

I remember Michelle becoming too weak and frail to be able to run around outside and play, yet still having this huge respect and appreciation for everything and everyone around her. I felt so sad and helpless. Why couldn’t the doctors fix Michelle? How did my beautiful friend get sick in the first place? And why wasn’t she getting better?

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