This is an extraordinary time in our lives. The Covid-19 virus has cost thousands of lives, illnesses in the hundreds of thousands and economic disruption for families in an unprecedented way. It has had another insidious effect on charities and nonprofit organizations that provide services and support for the most vulnerable among us. These organizations now suffer in fundraising because they traditionally rely on social gatherings and because some donors have had to set other priorities. One such organization is St. Baldrick's, the single largest private funder of research grants to find a cure for childhood cancer. St. Baldrick's has played a role in virtually every advancement made in childhood cancer research in the past 20 years and supports research at every hospital in the US that treats kids with cancer.
Ironically, the victims of childhood cancer experience the same social isolation and vulnerability to unknown and unseen diseases as we are experiencing in our daily lives now due to the coronavirus. The healthcare system expects a peak and then decline in Covid-19 cases and a preventive vaccine in the not too distant future. For pediatric cancer patients, however, the future must be based on hope. Hope that research will improve treatments and a cure will someday be found.
A child in the world is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes. These children often suffer with illness and social isolation for years. 1 in 5 of those in the U.S. will not survive.I refuse to accept this reality, so I’ve decided to fundraise for lifesaving research to find cures and better treatments for kids.If you are fortunate enough to have resources and savings that can be shared in this quest, join me in donating to the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
I plan to shave my head on April 17th in solidarity with kids who are being treated for cancer and for those who will have to have treatment in the future.You can watch me shave live on YouTube. Please join me at 11:30 am EST, April 17th. My shave will be broadcasted on the St. Baldrick's Virtual Shave Channel.