UPDATE: I'm Bald, but I am still fundraising! 

Hi, I'm Meredith. I'm 13 years old, in seventh grade and this is my second time shaving my head for St. Baldrick's. Why am I doing St.Baldrick's? I am shaving my head because I want to raise money and awareness for kids' cancer. Being a child is supposed to be a fun time, but instead of playing, some kids are sitting in a hospital room in pain wondering if they will live another day. I want to raise money to help find a cure for cancer so that children don’t have to worry about if there is a tomorrow for them. In 2014, when I was 10 and in 4th grade I shaved my head to honor Luke Johnston. Luke had cancer and sadly, he passed away in July of 2012. He was only 8. I only knew him for a little bit, but he touched my life and I want to touch someone else's. It takes just one person to make a difference in a life. That year, I made a difference! I shaved my head in front of my whole school (at an assembly) to help raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for childhood cancer. I raised over $7,400 for St. Baldrick's. This year, I am not only honoring Luke Johnston again, but also a boy named Austin Barnett. Austin battled brain and spinal cancer. I didn’t know Austin other than through reading posts on a private Facebook group his mom and my mom shared. We shared the love of Chow Chows! Austin was a very brave young man. He is Forever Austin Strong! Austin passed away at 12 years old just this summer. He would have been in 7th grade, although he couldn’t go to school. I felt a connection to him because I too was 12 and in 7th grade. It could have easily been me who had cancer. It could be any of us kids. Last March, Austin’s mom attached a St. Baldrick’s article to her Facebook page, and she wrote, "Austin Barnett is alive today because of St. Baldrick’s research. Dr. Rishi Lulla is also Austin's oncologist. If you want to donate to childhood cancer, this is the organization that really makes a difference." I know my contribution can make a difference. This is for you Luke Johnston and Austin Barnett! When I was 10, I called my first St. Baldrick’s fundraiser "Just One" because it was just one, me, who shaved my head...and because it takes "Just One" to make a difference. I asked the question, "Will you be that "one" who will help me reach my goal?” What I learned from that experience of doing fundraising door-to-door, and raising awareness and asking for donations was that yes, it takes "Just One" to make a difference, but it also takes an entire community to help support that "One."" I am still calling my fundraiser "Just One" for my second time shaving my head, but I know I count on all of you to help make this a successful fundraiser. I would love to reach my donation goal before I get my head shaved (March 10, 2017) so that I can announce how much money I raised for St. Baldrick's. But don't worry, you can keep donating even afterwards and I will even post pictures of my shaved head! St. Baldrick's will keep my donation page active for you to donate all the way through December 31, 2017. My goal is $5,000. My school, Traughber Junior High, has been very supportive and so has Student Council and my classmates. I will shave my head at my school's assembly just like last time. I plan to have my curly hair rubber banded into clusters and have it cut so that I may donate it to an organization that can make wigs for people who have lost their hair. Then I will shave my head in front of my whole school to help raise awareness and funds for St. Baldrick's. Thank you for reading my message and hopefully you will donate. Either way, please spread the word and share my message with others. The more people there are who donate, the closer we can get to a cure for kids’ cancer. Go below to PHOTO GALLLERY  and click on VIEW ALL to view pictures of me along the way! I am also including pictures of my before and after pictures from my 1st shave for St. Baldrick's in 2014. THANK YOU!! (P.S. If you want to contact my mom, Merrily, her phone number is 630-373-7733)