Every year, around St. Patrick's Day, I participate in an event called St. Baldrick's Day, wherein otherwise normal people shave their heads in an act of Solidarity with children who have cancer. The unique thing about this event is that ALL money raised goes to research of various kinds of CHILDHOOD cancer, and ONLY childhood cancer. You may ask why I do this, and so I will tell. Back in 1999, my little brother, Erich Andrew "Andy" Beck, was diagnosed with cancer, he was 20 months old at the time. He lost a kidney and went through chemo and radiation, but being the fighter he is, he beat it and after maintaining "clean scans" for 5 years was declared a "Survivor"!! In 2004, Andy came to the local St. Baldrick's event and assisted in shaving my head. That year, I promised him that I would keep doing it, until either my hair stopped growing back in, or they found a cure. We lost Andy to complications from those earlier surgeries in Feb. 2005, but the strength and courage he showed during his fight back in 1999-2000 was an inspiration to all who know him. So now you know why, every year since 2001, I have spent about half the year bald and then begin growing it back to shave again. 20 years in, it still feels incredible to participate in the event every year, and the stories still move me. Alas, after discussing it with my family, I have decided that this will be my last year participating as a Shavee. I will continue to be involved with St. Baldrick's in Pittsburgh, as an organizer, emcee, whatever they need, but I am going to let the younger generation carry on with the shaving.