As we wrap up National Volunteer Week, today we’ll meet two more volunteers with very different stories: one is the mom of a child diagnosed with cancer; the other, a researcher who’s devoted her career to early detection of childhood cancers.
Both will show us that it doesn’t matter how you get involved – just that your involvement is crucial to the work of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Jessica’s daughter, Mya, and friend Brendan are the faces of “Two Tiny Heroes”. Jessica Kershenski
St. Baldrick’s is well known for its head-shaving events, but there’s a growing movement at the Foundation called “Do What You Want” (DWYW). As the name suggests, these DIY fundraisers give organizers the freedom to choose how they’ll raise money for St. Baldrick’s and childhood cancer research.
Jessica is a big fan of DWYW. Along with her friend Elena Zerega, for the past four years she’s helped organize the “Two Tiny Heroes” trivia night fundraiser in St. Louis. Asked why she decided to create a fundraiser of this kind, Jessica said simply “Trivia nights are super fun!”
Jessica has a lot more to say when it comes to explaining what motivated her to become involved in fundraising for childhood cancer research.
“Elena and I are both moms of kids who have had cancer,” she said. Both children underwent intense treatments for their cancers. Jessica’s daughter, Mya, was only three when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and immediately underwent chemotherapy.
Meanwhile, Elena’s son, Brendan, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at age two and underwent ground-breaking treatment – funded by St. Baldrick’s – at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
The good news: both Mya and Brendan survived and are currently cancer-free.
Based on her experience, Jessica knows that childhood cancer research can save the lives of kids like her daughter and Brendan. That’s why she’s such a dedicated volunteer and supporter of St. Baldrick’s.
“St. Baldrick’s is amazing to work with, and we would highly recommend donating to this organization!” she said. “Thank you, St. Baldrick’s, for making it easy to support your cause and funding childhood cancer research!”
Dr. Kris Ann Schultz
Dr. Kris Ann Schultz, a St. Baldrick’s Scholar, is helping lead the fight against childhood cancers on multiple fronts. As a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis, her work focuses on helping children with pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB) – a rare cancer of the lungs – and ovarian tumors.
Dr. Schultz is also behind an early detection cancer registry, known as the International Ovarian and Testicular Stromal Tumor (OTST) Registry, that’s helped identify cancer in children at an early stage. In fact, Dr. Schultz’s registry helped save the life of Andrew Flynn, who was diagnosed with PPB at just three months of age. The early detection of a cyst on Andrew’s lung helped doctors get started on his treatment before PPB could take his young life.
Dr. Schultz’s registry was made possible by funding from St. Baldrick’s and Pine Tree Apple Tennis Classic, which has also raised millions for children’s cancer research. “This work would not be where it is today without their continuous support,” Dr. Schultz said of the two organizations.
When she’s not saving lives at work, Dr. Schultz is helping raise money for St. Baldrick’s and other childhood cancer research. She’s an eight-time volunteer event organizer (VEO), which means she’s dedicated much time and energy to raising funds for lifesaving research.
When asked why she’s remained involved in St. Baldrick’s fundraising for so long, Dr. Schultz said it’s “a time to reconnect with families we don’t see as often in clinic anymore, including the families of our Honored Angels.”
She added that it’s “really inspiring to see brave moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and hospital staff shave their heads.”
Follow Their Lead: Volunteer with St. Baldrick’s
Jessica and Dr. Schultz are just two of the many amazing volunteers who help St. Baldrick’s carry out its mission of finding new and better treatments for kids fighting cancer.
Join them in the fight against childhood cancers. Keep in mind that you can do this in any capacity you choose.
For example, you could:
- Sign up to shave your head
- Organize a head-shaving event
- Volunteer at a local head-shaving event
- Offer your talents and shave heads
- Create your own “Do What You Want” DIY fundraiser
- Involve your business or organization
- Join our advocacy movement
- Make a donation and fund research that saves kids’ lives
However, you choose to contribute, you’ll be helping in the fight against childhood cancers
Join the fight against childhood cancer.
Register. Fundraise. Show up and shave.
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