Cancer is a terrible disease that has effected and continues to effect so many families every day. This past summer, my family was effected when my father lost an all too short bout with pancreatic cancer.

I will always regret not being closer to home during those last few months. And although I will always remember my 27th birthday as the day my dad passed, I feel like getting my head shaved once a year is something I can do to feel closer to him, since I wasn't able to be close during his final few months. As a bonus, by helping fund children's cancer research, maybe I can help one or two families avoid this same scenario.

On March 15, I will be a shavee for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. St. Baldrick's is an organization that arranges "shaving" events around the country to benefit childhood cancer research. The event I am participating in is at the Charlotte Checker's hockey game. The plan is to hopefully raise some money and then I will get my head shaved in front of thousands of people. It's an absolutely great cause and I hope everyone can get behind me on this! Finally, thank you all for everything any of you did to help my family through our difficult time and more importantly, for helping to fund this great cause so another family is spared.