Hola, colleagues, friends and family! 

 Will you please join me in my effort to raise money to help find cures for childhood cancer? In my work as a Patient/Family Advocate at Children's Minnesota's Cancer and Blood Disorder Clinic, I see first-hand how cancer impacts children and their families. I decided to join the St. Baldrick's event at our hospital this year, because I have witnessed how difficult it is for our pre-teen and teenage patients, especially for the girls, to lose their hair. I want to honor these teens by shaving my own head. In particular, I am honoring two teens - Heidi and Wendy. Even as an adult, the thought of losing my thick, wavy hair, is scary and makes me feel insecure about what I will look like without hair. That is why I will invite Heidi and Wendy and some of the other adolescent patients I work with to join me at the event. Perhaps their presence and my small act of solidarity will give us all courage. 

Furthermore, when my mother was first diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, she too lost her hair. She is now battling the spread of her cancer, and I want to honor her as well. She taught me what it means to have compassion and to be in solidarity with those in need. So when I shave my head, I will honor her and the many ways she has given of herself to those in need. I love you, mom! 

 Kids with cancer need our support now more than ever. St. Baldrick’s is the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, and the pandemic has slashed donations, slowing down the progress to find cures. Cancer kills more of our kids than any other disease. Research can change that, and I don’t want to let these kids down. Can you help? 

Thank you so much! ¡GRACIAS!