They say the third time is the charm. This is my third time attempting a tenth time, so hopefully that makes it extra charmed.
On nine prior occasions I shaved my head in solidarity with the children who lose their hair to cancer, and in the process raised $14,824 via the St. Baldrick's Foundation to support pediatric cancer research. In October of 2018, I had an idea: since I would be away from New Orleans for the year studying in Iowa, I would delay my tenth shave by a year, grow my hair long, and go out with a bang in March of 2020. I also decided that this would be my last time participating in this amazing event as a shavee.
Well, we all know what happened next. 2020, and then 2021, were difficult years for many people, and St. Baldrick's Day was just one of many events to be cancelled. The 2020 event was delayed, then cancelled, and the 2021 event was postponed from March to December. Nevertheless, an amazing thing happened: even without the event and the shaving, you came through anyway, donating another $5,180 toward the effort to end childhood cancer.
Now after two postponements and a cancellation, St. Baldrick's Day is finally almost here again. On December 4th, 2021, I will once again, and this time for the last time, be going bald to support kids battling cancer and fund the research that can ensure no kid has to endure that battle again.
PLEASE NOTE: to me this event is the long-lost descendent of the 2020 fundraiser, so if you donated in 2020 you are under no obligation to donate again. If you'd like to anyway you're welcome to of course, but as far as I'm concerned this is the same event. It's for this that I have been growing my hair out for the last three years.
In addition to being the tenth time I'm participating this way, this year is also special because as many of you know, this year we lost my mother Janet after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer. My mom was the strongest person I ever knew, and in addition to fighting cancer herself and caring for her husband and mother during their cancer battles, she was also a pediatric oncology nurse for over thirty years. With this fundraiser I strive to honor her life and her work with children and their families struggling against this insidious disease.
Per tradition, I am also fundraising in honor of a local pediatric cancer patient. This year I am fundraising in honor of Jake M. of Marrero, Louisiana, a 2 year old diagnosed in January with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. As Mom's battle with cancer was nearing its end, Jake's was just beginning, with a form of cancer that was among the most common in my Mom's patients throughout her career.
Finally, just as during the cancelled 2020 event, I am also fundraising in memory of my father Wayne, who succumbed to colon cancer in 2016 after a ten-year battle. Everyone who knew Dad knows that he was a light in my life and many others: an accomplished professional who never bragged, a Scoutmaster and volunteer who positively impacted countless lives, and a man who taught me that being strong doesn't preclude showing affection. In this endeavor and others, I strive to honor him.
As in past years, I will be participating in the St. Baldrick's Day event at Finn McCool's Irish Pub in Mid-City New Orleans. This year's rescheduled event will be on December 4th, 2021. Over the past decade, Finn's has raised over one million dollars for childhood cancer research and their event is always a blast. With a silent auction, raffle, music, food, drinks, games, and of course lots of people losing lots of hair, the St. Baldrick's Day event at Finn's is a great party for a great cause. I hope you will consider getting shorn this year, or failing that, at least come and party.
Whether you get shaved, or come to Finn's to show your support, or make a donation, or just send kind thoughts, your support is greatly appreciated. Without you none of this would work, but with your support we can make a world free of children's cancers. Thank you very much.
