Dear Friends,
Welcome, and thank you for visiting my St. Baldrick's Day webpage. It's hard to believe, but NINE YEARS AGO I first found out about this amazing organization and with less than two weeks to go, I set up a webpage, sent some emails and made some calls, and quickly smashed my first fundraising goal of $504, thanks to your amazing support. As the years have passed, my hair and beard have gotten a little grayer, but my planning skills have not improved. So here we are again, with less than two weeks to go, and I am once again asking for your support. As I have eight times before, this year I am shaving my head in solidarity with all the children who have lost their hair in the fight against cancer, and to raise money for life-saving research so that someday children won't need to fight that fight anymore.
As always, I am fundraising as part of the amazing St. Baldrick's Day event at Finn McCool's bar in mid-city New Orleans, which this year will be on Saturday March 24th. It's starting to become something of a tradition that I can't actually make it to this event in person, due to work travel. But you should still go if you can! Finn's puts on a great party for a great cause, with music, drinks, silent auction, raffle, and of course lots of people having fun and going bald (maybe you'll get inspired a join the fun! A minimum donation of $50 gets you a sweet haircut and lots of unsolicited head rubs).
This year I am fundraising in honor of Callan Kott of New Orleans, a five-year old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). I don't know Callan personally but his story, like that of so many kids with cancer, inspires me with his strength, positivity, and courage in the face of fear and pain. I can especially appreciate the fact that he is a huge Star Wars fan who considers his battle with cancer to be a part of his Jedi training. You can read more about Callan in this article from CNN (https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/04/health/may-the-fourth-star-wars-child-cancer/) or by clicking the link below.
The St. Baldrick's foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, and Finn McCool's has raised hundreds of thousands, for pediatric cancer research through these head shaving events. Research that extends, improves, and saves lives. But of course none of this would be possible without you. I hope you will join me in supporting this cause by making a tax-deductible donation, by getting shaved yourself, or just by spreading the word. However you choose to help, I thank you in advance. Together we can create a world free of childhood cancers.
