Head-Shaving

Lacrosse Coach Inspired to Conquer Childhood Cancers

by St. Baldrick's Foundation
December 5, 2012

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By Ryan Cavanagh, Plattsburgh State University Lacrosse Coach

When my dad was diagnosed with lymphoma of the liver in 1985, his doctors said he would be lucky to make it to Thanksgiving. After undergoing treatment, he surprised everyone and became the first person that we know of to survive that type of cancer!

In 2003 my father was diagnosed with a form of bladder cancer. The doctors delivered the terrible news; and the outlook was not good. But once again he beat cancer and has been in remission ever since.

Years later I asked him how he sustained such a positive outlook during his diagnosis and prognosis. He told me the first time he had cancer, he was angry. “Why me!” Here he was, a homicide detective, someone who locked up murderers and rapists who were healthy as ever.

Seeing his extreme frustration, his doctor took him into the pediatric ward, where he saw infants undergoing the same treatment as him. Here were children that haven’t experienced anything in life, some too young to grasp the notion of what cancer is. It was from that point on that my dad’s outlook on how he would face these battles changed.

I wanted to help children with cancer, like those that saved my dad’s life, so I introduced St. Baldrick’s to the Plattsburgh State University Lacrosse Team. We hosted our first St. Baldrick’s event in March 2010, and each year since, the current senior class and the coaching staff have happily shaved our heads.

What I am most proud of is to watch players take these life lessons with them after they graduate Plattsburgh. St. Baldrick’s is a charity that brings out the best of giving, and we are very proud to continue to be a part of the organization.

St. Baldrick’s sports events allow athletes and sports enthusiasts an opportunity to turn their passion into action while supporting the Foundation’s mission to Conquer Childhood Cancers. Find out how you can host your own St. Baldrick’s sports event or get your local teams involved in the fight to conquer kids’ cancer.

St. Baldrick’s Sports

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