Greetings Friends,
I began my support of St. Baldrick's eleven years ago when I joined the staff of NAMIC, a longtime and proud supporter of St. B's.
Over the years I've seen a long string of amazing people offer up their hair as their contribution toward research to end these terrible diseases. Especially inspiring to me have been the brave and selfless women in the NAMIC family who hold their heads proudly under the razor and speak with beauty and reverence about how childhood cancer has touched their lives. The women of the mutual insurance industry have shown me a depth of strength and character in everything that they do, but especially in their dedication to give back to our communities by banding together to end the suffering of children at the hands of cancer.
My mega-moment came in 2017, when my dearest college friend texted me from an admitting room in a Pennsylvania hospital. She let me know that her beautiful little six year old girl was being evaluated for what they believed was a mass in her brain.
In the days that followed we learned that Sophia had a type of primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) that affects only 0.3 in a million. After a brave and terrible struggle, we lost Sophia after only a few short months.
When I think of Sophia, which is often, I think of what made her uniquely her. She dressed as Wonder Woman all the time; it was a big thing. I'm proud to tell you that hundreds of our classmates and Sophia's supporters dressed as Wonder Woman on a designated day to honor her - including many of the women of the PA Senate where Sophia's parents work. Many of us still wear wonder woman lapel pins to keep her memory close.
I think of Sophia singing in the car. I think of the sound of her laugh. I think of one of my visits near Christmas time, when she took me by the hand on a tour of my own hotel to "visit the decorations."
I can still remember the sound of her voice.
I can't stand to think of any child struggling with cancer, but when it came home to my heart I knew that I had to do anything in my power to make some small contribution.
I am shaving for Sophia, and her amazing parents Erin and Joe.
I am shaving for all of the parents of kids who have or have had childhood cancer. I see you, and I want all of the people I know to see you too.
With the love and support of my family (Thank you Erin and Anderson), I am shaving for a cure.
Please help me in this endeavor by contributing anything and all that you can.
I have volunteered to Brave the Shave at the NAMIC Annual Convention at National Harbor on September 24, 2019. With a goal to raise $50,000 or more for pediatric cancer research, I need all of you to consider what you can do to assist so that we can defeat childhood cancer!
You can give directly here or by phone at 888-899-BALD (2253). Credit cards are the easiest way to give and you’ll receive a receipt by email, or you can send or bring a check payable to "St. Baldrick's Foundation."
