My reason for participating in the event this second time around is much different than the first time around. When I first participated in 2013, I had never known a child diagnosed with cancer, and while I never actually met Mason, his battle both saddened me and inspired me to once again participate and raise money to help make a difference. Mason was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor located on his brain stem when he was just 6 years old. The tumor was terminal and inoperable from the time of diagnoses due to its location. Mason fought hard for a whole year maxing out radiation treatments while also doing chemotherapy. He had multiple surgeries, one of which was a lifesaving surgery when he first started his treatments because he developed swelling in his brain. When Mason was tested to see if the cancer had spread, they learned the devastating news that it had traveled all the way down his spine and nearly to his tailbone. Mason passed on July 12th, 2016 just 4 months before his 8th Birthday. He was young, but such a determined and inspiring fighter.

“Love is stronger than death” - Mason Duwayne Holmes Clay - (Miracle Mason) 11.4.08 – 7.12.16

 I'm shaving my head to raise money for childhood cancer research! Did you know that kids' cancers are different from adult cancers? It's true. And childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So I decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.

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.