Hi – In exchange for donations I just signed up to have my head shaved Thursday, March 10th, 2011 as a member of Owain’s Army and the St. Baldricks Foundation to show my support to pediatric cancer research. As you can imagine, as a female, this is a pretty big decision I’ve made, but it is one thing I can do for something that impacts us all. Cancer is one of those huge battles that is greater than any one of us can handle alone, but together we can make a difference. My goal is to raise awareness and at least $1000 in the next few days and friends and associates like you are helping me get there! Please consider donating in show of support for this event. Every amount – from $5, $35, $50 or more - adds up to the greater good, in this case, finding cures for children and adults faced with cancer. If you have a company that matches charitable contributions, please consider having them match your gift. 1. Go to http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ShaveMariesHead [You are here now] 2. Click on the green “Make a Donation” button under my picture 3. Enter in any amount that you can give – from ‘a latte’ to a lot – every amount adds up! 4. Print up a receipt for your tax deduction 5. Feel great that you are helping to make a difference too! Quick facts: • Only 3% of federal cancer funding goes to pediatric cancer. • No new pediatric cancer medications have been introduced in 30 years – because it is just not profitable to research and introduce pediatric specific treatments. • Adults benefit from research in pediatric cancer, but often adult treatments do not translate well for children. Because of these shortcomings, kids suffer terribly in treatment, and suffer from severe long term side effects of treatment for the rest of their lives. Here is a music video made to create awareness about this issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9pHISnIj2Y What made me decide to do this? Owain is the son of family friends Alex and Heather. At age 8, Owain went from very active boy to feeling crummy all the time. He was diagnosed with (pre-b, acute lymphocytic) leukemia. Owain has gone through treatments, and signed up to be on trials to help researchers get medicine doses right. Back when you and I were kids, there was a low rate of surviving, today there's over a 85% chance - all because of research and families and patients like Owain. Pediatric cancer research helps all ages of patients with cancer, but gets a minuscule portion of research funding; most research money goes to adult cancer treatments which do not translate to children. Twelve years ago this past week, my mom was deemed 'cancer free' after treatment for breast cancer. I didn't really understand what having cancer was at the time even though a few years before this, my favorite uncle died at age 35 – the same age I am right now - from skin cancer. Cancer has been around me and those I love for some time. It hasn't been until Owain's Army - a group formed by his parents - that I've given serious consideration of what it means to have cancer, or a child sick with cancer. I am sure a big factor in my personal awareness were the 4 days Anniston spent in the hospital a year ago because of an infection to a laceration above her eye received in school P.E. I knew that her infection - despite not responding to antibiotics - would likely not spread to the rest of her body, but that is not the case with cancer. I cannot imagine the fear and struggle of dealing with cancer in my child. I am personally feeling the need to put some attention to the cancer cause, mostly because I am fully understanding it more. I signed up to ride the Seattle to Portland bike ride this summer primarily as a milestone of recovery for my leg, but if I can do something good for another cause, I'm going to throw that in (I love to multitask!) so I'll be riding under the banner of Owain's Army for that too, and hope I can raise a few more dollars for research that way too. How does that translate to shaving off my hair? Well, it helps that ever since Sinead O'Connor hit the scene, I've always wanted a shaved head - but at that time, I had hair down to my waist and didn't know about locks for love yet. :) On the serious side, this is one thing I can currently give up and still make a difference – through raising money for a good cause and showing support for families that have experienced the trauma of cancer. On a more personal level, I'm hoping it also brings me to the a point of centeredness where I really focus on living as I wish, with kindness and forgiveness and not being constantly overwhelmed or stressed out. Perhaps the re-growth will be a little metaphor of little bits and focused changes at a time brings us to the life I want to live. From Owain: "When I first got diagnosed with cancer in March, my first thought was OMG I'm gonna die. Then, another voice inside me, the positive one, said ‘no, I am not going to die. I am going to ride this out and I am going to get better.’ Since then I’ve had an increase in appetite, a drop in appetite, a loss of weight, a gain of weight, and everything from sedations to IV chemo pushes. But, in the end, it was all the same mind – ‘as soon as I am out of this hellhole, I am going to get back on my feet.’ Because life can knock you down but you just have to get back up again. Cancer sucks eggs. So, on behalf of kids that I know that are living with, through, beyond, or have even died from cancer, I am asking you – will you meet this challenge? Will you fight pediatric cancer? Will you help find a cure? Donate from 5 cents to 500 dollars – anything would help. I met a kid in the ward his case was so severe that every time I went back – and I’ve been back a lot – I saw him there in the ward. Will you help him get home? Think about it, make your choice. –Owain " (seriously, this is exactly what he said, verbatim – I [Alex, Owain's Father] just wrote it down) http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/owainsarmy/mystory Thank you for your time and contributions! Marie Walter http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ShaveMariesHead Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.