Hey everyone. So this is my second year participating in the St. Baldrick's event. I found out about this last year while staying in Chicago with my Daughter Mia shortly after her small intestine transplant. Before I was born I had a sister, Stephanie Lyn Royer, who was going to be my big sister! I'm told she was full of love and happiness. Sadly, Stephanie was diagnosed at age 5 with Leukemia. She was a tough girl and was doing real well in her fight, however in October 1980, Stephanie came down with Chicken Pox. Steph had fought long and hard, but her immune system was wore down and sadly Stephanie passed away on October 10th, 1980. My big sister is in heaven now baby sitting my oldest son, who passed away shortly after birth due to a birth defect not compatible with life, known as anencephaly. Losing a child is very difficult, and hard to explain in words, but that's what inspires me to be a part of this. Knowing the feeling of losing a child has made this event very dear to me. We will miss our son, and I will one day get to meet my sister in heaven and see my son again, but there is something we can do here and now in our lives to help many children continue this strong fight that Stephanie fought. I'm shaving my head in memory of my big sister, and all kids, that fight so hard against such a tough illness. So all I ask if you are here reading this now, that you possibly donate any amount to the funding of research to help find a cure! With love from my family to yours. Ben Royer