Hello friends and family! I’M SHAVING MY HEAD (hope that got your attention) and I need your help. I’ve decided to participate in an event called Brave the Shave, which seeks to raise funds for childhood cancer research through a charity called St. Baldrick’s Foundation. In the U.S., more children are lost to cancer each year than to any other disease. St. Baldrick’s mission is to contribute to the most promising research initiatives on the horizon to help these young patients.

This cause holds a uniquely special place in my heart because of the impact it had on my childhood friend, Shelby Horne​. In her senior year of high school at the age of just 17, Shelby was diagnosed with lung cancer. The strength and grace that she displayed during her fight were beyond admirable, but unfortunately cancer doesn’t hold back, even against the best of us. Shelby’s fight ended 14 months later, and she is missed, loved, and cherished by her family and friends as much today as she ever was.

Shelby touched the lives of so many in my community, and so it is in her memory that I want to participate in this event and continue her fight against cancer. I know she’s touched many of your lives too, particularly those of you who attended Lutheran High School with her in 2009-2013. Whether you knew Shelby or not, I’m humbly asking you to help me fight for this cause by contributing any amount that you can. My new goal is to raise $3,500 (you all CRUSHED my initial goal of $1,000), and you can donate by clicking on the link beside this panel. Please also feel free to share this link with your own experience of how childhood cancer (or cancer in general) has impacted you or your community. Thank you all so much for any help you can provide!