Hey guys, My name is Jon Crocker and I'm a firefighter in Monroe Township. I know you are busy but please take a minute to read through to the end. I'm contacting you because my union brothers, from IAFF Local 3170, and I are committed to a charity called St. Baldrick's for the last 6 years. On March 22, 2014 we will all shave our heads at an event publicly to show our support and solidarity with children that have cancer. You have seen many other organizations and cancer charities but childrens cancer is seriously unfunded. St. Baldrick's is the lead source for providing much needed money to research a cure for cancer in children. Unlike many other charitable donations you can look through their website and see there is complete transparency to how the funds are distributed and that the bulk, in fact, actually reaches where it's supposed to go. I can verify their appropriate contributions uniquely because my best friend, Dr. Christian Capitini, is part of a team of top cancer doctors in the us that St. Baldricks recently funded called "The Dream Team" Financials: http://www.stbaldricks.org/financials The dream team, as I mentioned, is a compilation of top Docs around the nation who are researching cures from outside the box of normal thought processes and they have a really unique and exciting approach towards the possible cure. You can google all of this to find out more or click the links...I promise the links aren't malicious. http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/post/dream-team-announced/ Verify Dr. Christian Capitini's involvement: http://www.uwhealthkids.org/news-and-events/uw-carbone-cancer-rearchers-named-to-pediatric-cancer-dream-team/40668 So, as you can see this isn't your generic request for donations or involvement. It means something to me personally. Not just because my best friend is about to cure cancer (which is an incredible milestone I would love to celebrate with him) but also because I have 4 children who my family is close to who are battling four different types of cancer as I send this. Ana (9) who is my wife's best friend's daughter and my daughter's best friend. Taylor (6). I have 3 people I consider my best friends and Taylor is the son of one of them as well as my daughters friend. Madison (5) who is my union brother's, on my shift, niece. and Thea (7) who is a lifelong friend's daughter who wasn't supposed to survive her battle more than 6 mos after she was diagnosed at 4 mos. old. Thea is truly a fighter and has had several traumatic events during her treatment over the years. She is a true inspiration. Now that I've pushed my story on you, and I really really appreciate you having read it, I would ask you to please involve yourself. Maybe a donation isn't the right thing for you...in that case I will simply ask that you involve yourself in some way specific to our event. How? Well, providing a link on your social media would be great! Also, emailing or distributing this email to other business owners you know or even just walking some flyers over to your business neighbors and asking them to do the same thing I asked of you. Distributing this info to your actual friends is very helpful too. Finally, we don't particularly care how the money gets into the right hands whether it is us or you ...so please feel free to become part of the event in your own business name and collect donations for yourself and your own bragging rights to making a difference. You can create your own group, become a participant in any event you find convenient, get your dome shaved at an event, be a barber at an event, contact the event coordinator to see if you can contribute something to help make the event an even larger success such as a door prize. Anything!!! It's easy to do nothing...I only ask you do something/anything at all to help. You will never know what these kids may grow up to be and achieve....given the chance. Honestly, If your still reading...I couldn't be more humbled and appreciative. Let's do this together! My personal link for this event is as follows for donations and passing along: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/665522/2014 Sincerely, Firefighter Jon Crocker IAFF Local 3170 member