2026 marks my 20th year shaving my head to raise funds for childhood cancer research through St. Baldrick’s.
Every year, during the Baldrick's event we meet parents and children and hear their powerful stories. While we’ve always supported this cause with empathy and determination, it’s something we never imagined would touch our family personally. Over the past 20 years, we’ve raised funds for St. Baldrick’s, never thinking that one day, our own child would benefit from the organization’s research and financial support.
In December 2023, our then 16-year-old daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. By the grace of God and the incredible care provided by Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, three years later, Emily is now classified as a cancer survivor!
Through Emily’s journey, we’ve witnessed firsthand the difference St. Baldrick’s makes for children and families facing cancer. The research funded by this organization gave us a clear game plan to tackle Emily’s specific cancer. Unfortunately, there are still many other types of childhood cancers without effective or safe treatment plans. This is why we remain committed to raising funds—to advance research that not only makes treatments more tolerable but also paves the way toward curing childhood cancer entirely.
Over the past 20 years, our team, EMbrace the Bald, has raised more than $170,000 in support of childhood cancer research. We’ve been honored to shave in tribute to survivors like Archer, whose mother faithfully brings him to the event each year. Seeing Archer, now with a clean bill of health, reminds us why we do this. Kids like Archer and Emily inspire us to keep fighting—to give every child the chance to overcome their diagnosis, endure treatment, and live a healthy, normal life, but it also reminds us of the countless other children still battling cancer, like our friends Leighton and Celestia.
Please consider donating to support these children and their families. Our hair will grow back—but giving a child the chance at a healthy future is the ultimate goal.
God Bless,
Eric, Colleen, & The EMbrace the Bald Family
