I'm shaving my head to raise money for childhood cancer research! Did you know that kids' cancers are different from adult cancers? It's true. And childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So I decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.
Children, such as Emily Ringham, will always be my heroes! Emily and I met at the Crystal City St. Baldrick's Foundation event in Arlington, VA several years ago. Emily shared her story of being diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 10 and how it changed her life. Her childhood was stolen from her, but she does not exude anything but positive energy. She is an incredible and inspiring young lady. I feel honored to know her and her incredible and supportive family. To see her story, from her own perspective, please watch this video: https://vimeo.com/89211247.
Many of you have been following my "St. Baldrick's shavee" journey since I first shaved in 2005! This cause is very close to my heart! Since 2005, I have met so many incredible children, some fighting for their life, others haven beaten cancer, and others that went to join the angels that fought and lost before them. Shaving almost every year since 2005 has kept me humble and made me grateful for each day, even when the day is not a good one. Life is a journey. Embrace everyday, embrace your family, embrace your friends. Love them everyday!
The last part of 2016 and 2017 were especially heart wrenching for my family and 2018 and 2019 added more insult to injury. One of my parents was diagnosed with cancer toward the end of 2016 and had surgery to remove the cancer in 2018. The doctors did not get all it so the fight continues. Another parent was diagnosed shortly after 2017 began and fought (and beat) cancer the entire duration of 2017!! The cancer returned in early 2019! Again, the fight is on! A dear friend of ours was also diagnosed with breast cancer and fought (and beat) cancer! In 2018, we lost yet another dear friend to cancer. He was not only a dear friend, but was also our wedding officiant. His loss was a shock as his battle was hard fought, but short. We also lost one of our fur babies to cancer in 2017! Cancer does not discriminate!
I had been around the "C" word for years and consider myself very empathetic, but when it hits your family directly, it feels different. A dear cousin of mine shared her cancer story with me in 2017, as well. I had no idea she went through this and kept it from most of our family. My heart was broken, but looking at her now, I am so inspired by her strength, her courage and her zest for life!
The past three years have been even more emotional for me, having been touched by the "C" word by multiple members of my family, to include my FRamily! I shave in solidarity with children and adults fighting for their life! That being said, childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So I decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.
If what I wrote is not enough to convince you to donate, please click on each of the children I am honoring and read their stories. Each child's journey is powerful and they need our help. Join me in the fight to find a cure through funding childhood cancer research.
Now I need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers.
