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Photo by Creativity103.com

When you hear me talk about childhood cancer, I am usually speaking about my son, Will. He fought the disease not just once, but twice. And by some miracle, he survived both times.

He stands before the world as a survivor, a tangible link to a terrible disease. There are many like him — boys and girls blessed with the ability to walk out of the hospital and away from the monster that is childhood cancer. They are living, breathing proof that some kids make it through the fight, and we cling to their stories of survival to inspire us to fight cancer.

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Top row (L-R): Trisha, Beth, TeNeil, Misshay, Ericka
Bottom row: Jessica, Renee, Stephanie, Vanessa, Jordan
Photos by Ali Parker Photography

Each one of these moms has heard the words, “Your child has cancer.” Their kids’ cancer journeys brought them to the 10th floor of the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. There in the halls of the pediatric oncology unit, friendship grew. Stronger together, they became 10 Strong.

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Dr. Brad compares haircuts with patient and fellow shavee, Gerry; Dr. Brad’s office sign

“If you shave your head, it will be the most EXPENSIVE haircut you get because you’ll be paying for a divorce! I dare you!”

That was my wife’s response after she found out I was going to go bald at the St. Christina Cardinals event organized by my patient, Rita Kennedy.

Well, not one to back down from a dare, I became a shavee for the first time in 2011.

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Nurse Luke with cancer-fighter Brandon, who will help shave Luke’s head on March 9

Why do I shave for St. Baldrick’s? I do it for the kids I take care of at work. I am a nurse on the pediatric oncology floor at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and I am inspired by the grace and dignity that these kids and their families endure each and every day.

I can’t even begin to imagine being in one of those parent’s shoes – having a child sick in the hospital, receiving chemo, going through one procedure after another. In spite of it all, they carry on with strength and fortitude, sitting by their child’s side, comforting them 24/7.

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Something BIG just happened in my life.

On February 16, I shaved my head for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, in order to promote solidarity between kids with cancer and people without, to raise money for a cure, and to be a “walking billboard” for the cause!

This isn’t just any kind of fundraiser. This is me asking for any donation you may be able to give, to help save a kid’s LIFE. To help find a cure for an ugly disease that doesn’t have the right to take as many people as it does.

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by George Tibbles

Ollie was like any other little brother, annoying at times, cheeky all the time, and pretty much my best friend.

He absolutely loved trains. We would make train sets the size of the entire living room. For us, nothing really changed when we discovered that Ollie had a brain tumor, a type of childhood cancer. I didn’t treat him like he was sick. I treated him as I would have even if he wasn’t diagnosed, because Ollie just wanted to be like any other kid. If he wanted to play trains and I wasn’t up for it, then I just didn’t.

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Many things made Anna, Anna. Her giggle, her blue eyes, her smile, the way she would kick her feet when she crawled towards the stairs. I can still envision her waving her fingers in the air and bouncing on her knees.

We have so many pictures of Anna smiling and happy. For a time, side effects from treatment stole our sweet girl from us. Many months of therapy and prayers slowly brought Anna back and she re-learned to sit up, crawl and cruise again. She would help the nurses use her central line, wiping the ends off with an alcohol swab.

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(Photo by Joel Corcoran Photography)

It’s time for you to be a part of the world’s largest volunteer-driven charity for childhood cancer research funding.

Get registered to shave your head or plan an event to raise money for childhood cancer research. The money you raise could fund the next research project that finds the cure for childhood cancer.

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A series of touching photos from a St. Baldrick’s event were shared with the Foundation. These photos captured a story that begged to be told.

In her own words, Jamie Roy shares how she found herself in the barber’s chair for what would be her fourth time shaving for St. Baldrick’s. This time, Jamie took the place of a friend, Jeri Jones, who lost her son Daniel to childhood cancer. Before Jamie was shorn, Jeri shared her son’s story with the crowd, bringing many to tears. This is their St. Baldrick’s story, on March, 16, 2012 at the Denver, Co. Fado’s Irish Pub event.

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A picture is worth a thousand words. And sometimes, there’s so much more – there’s heart, and joy and love.

In February, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation shared this photo to ring in the “month of love.”

Little did we know that this photo captured so much more than a warm embrace after a St. Baldrick’s shave. It captured the story of spontaneity, of selflessness, of one little girl being so moved by what she saw and experienced, that she just had to do something.

So what did lead up to this photo being snapped? Hallie Carl, the St. Baldrick’s participant embracing this little girl, tells us the story behind the photo:

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