Hello!
With our upcoming wedding Chris and I decided to so something big and out of the norm. Instead of gifts we are asking friends and family to donate to St. Baldrick's, as well as spread the word! Every dollar counts. Childhood cancer is extremely underfunded, and can use your help immensely.
The best part? Shorty after our wedding I, Tamarra Lowry, will be shaving my entire head! Why St. Baldrick's? Let me tell you about some amazing life changing people. A few years ago I had a few friends thru a Facebook participate in a shave off with St. Baldrick's. I thought it was really cool. I donated to each one of their fundraisers. I liked their passion, intensity and support for the cause. It was something I could have never imagined being apart of, I love my hair! Shortly after that, in June 2011, my friend Andrea posted about this little boy named DJ. I started reading, and couldn't make it thru his story with out choking up. Here was this little boy a few months younger than my son, diagnosed with cancer. His parents were from my home town. It just touched my motherly heart in a way that I still can't put into words. With our birthdays fast approaching I asked all my friends and family to donate to a fund set up for his parents, I didn't even know them. I actually didn't meet them until August 2014. I passed out wrist bands with the link in TN miles away from Texas. I just couldn't imagine being in their shoes. I spent the next 3 years randomly donating to different charities supporting different types of cancer. While it had still really hadn't hit close to my home, my family or my friends. March 2014 comes, Chris and I start planning our wedding. We set a date for November 2014, and we are stoked! We pick out our stuff. The forever lingering question: "Where are you going to register at?" Which we would have an answer for with not so nicely dealt hand of life and reality. In July of 2014, one of my close friends, Ashley, was diagnosed with breast cancer at 26! I sat on my bathroom floor and just wept for her. I immediately said I would shave my head and support her in any way I could. She told me not to be silly, I had a wedding to be in. I was slightly relieved that she wasn't on board for that. I told my husband and when he came home that night we just talked and talked about it. How would we handle news like this? What would we do? It something most couples never thing about or even consider. I still, even after seeing her in treatment can't believe it is happening to someone I love and care about. Thru the first month of my friend's treatment I was all over the place emotionally and mentally. It just wasn't something I expected to ever deal with. I didn't know what to do, but I wanted to do something. Something that mattered and something motivating. But what? In August my son started playing flag football, one of the coaches turned out to be... DJ's dad, Rocky, and I finally got to meet the legendary kid himself. I wanted to squeeze him and tell him how strong he is, but I shook his hand like I wasn't star stuck. His dad told me about the things DJ could possibly never be able to do because of his cancer, about his treatments and risks. It was a hard pill to swallow. It was hard to look at this small giggly child and just think about everything they have endured as a family. Could my family be that strong? Would this happen to us? Insert wedding talk. Where are you registered? What do you want? To be completely honest, we have it all, and then some. We aren't materialistic or greedy, we've just been dealt a good band in life. Everything we own is in working condition and fine. We could probably use some newer odds and ends, but... Not really. I remembered St. Baldrick's and approached my husband with the idea to do charity fundraiser instead of asking for gifts. He was all for it. I then sat him down and explained St. Baldrick's and that I would be SHAVING MY HEAD in support of not only childhood cancer research, but for my dear friend going thru chemo. He was on board. We made a video and launched the fundraiser. Instead of guest bringing gifts, they would donate to an amazing cause. It was an awesome feeling when we started to get the initial feed back of love and support. I had this lingering question of: "Can I really do this? Can I really shave my head?" About a week or so before the wedding, I get another phone call. I excitedly pick up because it's one of my all time favorite people. Life just keeps us apart at times. Within seconds I could tell someone was severely wrong with my friend. Then she tells me "I have cancer Tamarra." My mind just started saying " No No No No No!!!!" Why is this happening. We talk about it, life and her goals. I get off the phone and I'm just on shock, again. I just couldn't believe it. Why is this happening? Queue wedding day. I am so focused on me. It's my day to shine. My time to be a princess and have all eyes on me. I am nervous but ready. I can't even think about anything else but wedding wedding wedding.... Boom. Show time. I walked down to meet my husband I am focused. Don't fall, smile, don't cry. Be perfect. You can do this. As I walk up closer to the guests I catch a glimpse of Ashley standing with a huge smile on her face in the crowd of friends and family. She had come to support me on one of the biggest days of my life, while being deep into her chemo treatments trying to keep herself going. I knew in that 2.5 seconds of eye contact, I could support her too. I had the wedding of my dreams, it was better than I could have imagined. Sweet perfection. When I woke up the next morning after the best night of my life next to my husband, I told him "I'm shaving my head today." He kissed me, stroked my hair and said "Whatever you want babe." ...And I did it. Chris and I received so much praise about how brave, selfless and considerate we are being. When in reality, all we are doing is supporting people we are about. People who have touched our lives. St. Baldrick's raises money to help find a cure for children like DJ, and my shaved head let's women know that hair is just an accessory. It doesn't make you more or less of a woman. You can still be hella cute without it!