Heather Stenger’s mom, Aria, cared deeply about children. So when Aria passed away suddenly last October, her daughter decided to honor her memory in a way that would have made her mama proud. Join Heather — start an event!
First-time VEO Heather organized her St. Baldrick’s event, and braved the shave, to honor her mother.
“My mom was the type of person who would do anything for anybody. It didn’t matter if she had the time to do it or not, she’d make the time,” Heather said.
Aria, who was a grandmother to eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild, cared deeply about childhood cancer. Though it hadn’t affected her family or her personally, she often brought presents to children in the hospital and raised funds with different organizations for the cause.
Heather and her daughters braved the shave during the event honoring Heather’s mother.
So when Heather heard about St. Baldrick’s for the first time, everything clicked.
“I went ‘Huh, we can do that,’ and here we are,” Heather said.
A photograph of Heather’s mom, Aria, was displayed at the event.
Her initial fundraising goal was $5,000, but as donations flowed in, Heather decided to double it to $10,000.
Heather’s first event was even more successful than she had hoped. The event, at the Nine Irish Brothers pub in Lafayette, Indiana, raised about $15,000 for childhood cancer research.
“It was amazing,” Heather said. “Most of it was a blur. We were so busy. It exceeded our expectations in so many ways.”
Heather, her husband and their two daughters all shaved in Aria’s honor.
“I think had we done this event when she was still alive, she would have shaved her head too,” Heather said.
Join Heather in going bald for kids with cancer. Become a shavee℠ today.
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