Top o' the mornin', etc. etc. In 2004, back in the Big Windy, I decided to participate in St. Baldrick's after reading an Eric Zorn column about it in the Chicago Tribune. Initially I set a goal to raise $500, which was quickly surpassed. In the end, my wonderful friends, family, and co-workers, including many of you, ended up donating $1,723, and then another $1400 when I did it again in 2006, and both years I ended up looking like a young Telly Savalas: who loves ya, baby? A few years have passed, and I'm now out here in the Golden West. I think you guys have it in you again, and I've decided that bald is a good look for me (heck, I'm headed that way anyway), and so I come clippers in hand once again asking for your donation to help fight pediatric cancer. I guess a little explanation is in order: St. Baldrick's was started by a group of business execs in New York City a few years back who had been celebrating St. Patty's in the traditional manner: with a boatload of pints at their local pub. They decided to give their celebrations a twist and help young children diagnosed with cancer by shaving their heads bald in solidarity with the kids in return for pledges of financial support for the National Childhood Cancer Foundation. They've since raised over a million dollars in support of research and treatment of childhood cancer for the foundation. Essentially, that's my motivation...to give some meaning and positive impact to the standard St. Patrick's celebration I'd no doubt head down to good old Durty Nelly's in the sunny Sunset to engage in otherwise. I'm not Mother Theresa or even Jerry Lewis : I won't (and can't) give a florid speech about the ravages of the disease. Suffice it to say: Cancer Sucks. If the least I can do to help lessen the chances of its spectre visiting my family or yours is go bald for a couple months, fire up the clippers. But I'll need your help. Please strongly consider making a tax-deductible donation to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation by sponsoring me to shave my head. To make a donation and learn more about the event and NCCF, visit http://www.stbaldricks.org. You can go directly to my page here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-58299 Or, you can click on "Sponsor a Participant" on the main page to look me up and submit a donation in my name (Joel Reamer). Additionally, you can call 1-888-899-BALD to donate by phone or I can accept donations in person...if you choose to go that route, I have donation forms I'd need you to fill out. All checks should be filled out to St.Baldrick's, with my name in the "Memo" section. If you want to watch as my mane goes from unruly to smooth join me at the Bay Street mall over in Emeryville, a quick BART trip or drive over the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, during the afternoon of March 14th as me and a few dozen others get shorn. Again, anything you could spare would be appreciated. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and Happy St. Pat's! Yours truly, Joel.