I wanted to let you guys know that I am shaving my head. Yes, you read that right, I am shaving my head. I am stepping out of my comfort zone big time on this one but it is going to be so worth it. I am going to be a participant in the St. Baldrick’s Shaving to Cure Childhood Cancers Event on March 7th. St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long, healthy lives. Research for childhood cancer is severely lacking and there has only been two new medicines developed in the last twenty years for it. Research in this dreaded disease is what I feel like is the key to overcoming it and without this research innocent children will continue to suffer.

I feel very passionately about this cause because I have been witness to it up close and personal. I am doing this for many different reasons but three reasons stand above. The first reason I am doing this is for Sydney Dover. Syd is a very close and personal family friend of ours that has beaten cancer TWICE. Syd is one of the most inspirational people that I have ever met. Syd has been to hell and back twice along her way to beating this awful disease and I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. As Rachel has said on many occasions about Syd, she is destined to do something great with her life. She is one special lady. 

The second reason that I want to do this is for Harper Wehneman and the Wehneman family. The Wehneman’s are neighbors of ours in the ‘Cove’ and they are the ones that started this team for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. About a year and a half ago Harper was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor stage 4 on her kidney. This little girl battled so strong and so brave for a year and was declared NED, No Evidence of Disease. Within three months her cancer returned. She fought so hard, but in the end cancer finally caught up to her. She gained her forever wings on December 30. She was 9. As Harper’s dad put it, “While childhood cancer research can't do anything more for Harper, I know Harper would want us to do everything we can to help other kids with cancer.” 

This brings me to my third reason for doing this. I want to help other children that have cancer. These innocent kids do not deserve this horrible disease. They deserve to go out and play, swim with their friends, and have no cares in the world. They should not have to worry about long hospital stays, CT and MRI scans on a monthly basis, and if they are going to live or die. Childhood is meant to be fun and happy. 

So after all that, that is why I have decided to shave my head. I want to raise money for childhood cancer research. On March 7th I will be at the Louisville St. Baldrick’s Community Event at O’Shea’s Irish Pub along with my other teammates to shave our heads. I have setup a webpage for donations and I ask anything you guys to do to help raise funds for me, my team, and cancer research would be greatly appreciated. No amount is too big or too small. Everything counts. 

Now I need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers.