This year, while an amazing one for us, was not a good year for everyone. Two of our friends and colleagues lost their children to cancer. That is two too many. While this news is devastating in any circumstance, being a mother and holding my baby in my arms when I heard the news both times caused me inexplicable sadness. I spent a lot of time being sad - deeply and paralyzingly sad. I held Gabby close, I cried, and then I held her and cried some more. I found myself crying on the train, at work, walking down the street - every time I thought about the missed birthdays, the cuddles that could be had no longer, and lost dreams for the man and woman they could be.
Ecclesiastes says there is a time for everything. There is a time to weep and there is a time to mourn. But there is also a time to build, to plant and to heal, and I can't simply be sad any longer. I have to do something. I have to believe that we have it within our power to help fight and cure childhood cancer, so no more eight-year-old boys have to be told they are dying, so no more babies have to die in their parents' arms without the ability to understand what is happening or even to ask, and so no more parents have to bury their children in the ground. Buried with the dreams they had for them.

Every 3 minutes, a parent is told their child has cancer.

1 out of every 5 children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. and Canada will die.

In the last 20 years, only two new drugs have been specifically developed to treat children with cancer.

Less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget is directed to childhood cancer research.

Let's change the course of history.

On March 31st, over 60 Rabbis, men and women, will shave their heads to raise money to cure childhood cancer. Their goal is to raise 360,000 dollars. So far, over 298,000 dollars have been raised. I am doing my part by trying to raise as much money as possible. I have set a personal fundraising goal of 3,600 dollars. I am hoping to exceed it. And I hope you will help me.

Sad is no longer enough. Yes I'm sad, incomprehensibly so. And I'm angry. And I'm scared. But now I'm also ready. I'm ready to kick childhood cancer square in the tuchus.

We are in the throes of resolution writing. My resolution is one. I resolve to raise heaping loads of money and awareness and to help stop childhood cancer in its tracks. Or perhaps bigger, I resolve to give all children the chance at life. I hope you'll help me.

With head-shaving and other fundraising events, this volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.

So much love to you all.

Micol