Update 5/16: The clippers are getting closer... Only 5 days to go until the big shave! I must admit I am getting pretty excited :-)
A GIGANTIC THANK YOU to everyone that has already donated! I really appreciate it, and it's a fantastic organization you've contributed to. Thanks to you, I have already reached my fundraising goal of $1000, but I’m not willing to stop there. I would like to see how many people I can get personally involved in finding a cure to childhood cancer. 24 people have invested in my bald head so far, can I double that? No amount is too small (or large;) to donate.
Dear Friends & Family,
About 15 years ago, I was inspired by a nurse who shaved her head in the name children's cancer research. She worked with kids with cancer and shaved her head in solidarity with her patients to raise both awareness and money for children's cancer. At the time I was a hairdresser and I decided to volunteered at the event to help shave heads. Being a part of my first St. Baldrick’s event forever changed me, I knew that it would not be my last St. Baldrick’s. I met so many kids that not only faced challenges of their health, but their own identity and sense of beauty as well. What I saw was a community filled with so much love, hope and bravery. The next year I not only volunteered as a shaver, but as a shavee as well. If these kids could do it, so could I!
The first time I was personally affected by a child with cancer I was in Elementary school when a classmate of mine, Tiffany, died of a brain tumor. Unfortunately this was not the last time a child I knew was diagnosed with cancer. I can't pretend to know the unbearable sorrow a parent of a child with cancer feels, however because of the difficulties we have faced with my own daughter, over the past 2 1/2 year I think my understanding might be a little bit clearer now. And if I can help even a tiny bit, by just letting go of a little bit of my own vanity to head shave, I'm ready to jump back in and get personally involved with St. Baldrick’s.
I only recently learned that children's cancer is significantly different than adult cancer. Not only that, but children's cancer research is grossly underfunded compared to research for adults. It just isn't as profitable. St. Baldrick's is working to bridge that gap. You can learn more about the science at https://www.stbaldricks.org/about-childhood-cancer, and more about the funding gap at https://www.stbaldricks.org/filling-the-funding-gap. Read more about the specific research being funded at https://www.stbaldricks.org/see-the-impact.
I love the idea of funding diverse cancer researchers all over the world and encouraging their collaboration, rather than funneling all the money to big corporations and powerful pharmaceutical companies. I also love the idea of individuals all over the world making it happen through such a simple act; a bald head in solidarity, thousands of bald heads in direct monetary support. I'm excited to join in, and I hope you'll help me reach my small monetary goal to help fund this important research, as well as support my decision to let go of a little bit of my vanity and raise awareness for children's cancer wherever I go this summer, bald head shining.
Thank you so much for any amount you are able to donate. Or, if funds are tight, I hope you'll at least come out to Migration Brewing on Sunday May 21st to share the excitement with me, and our shave team The Baldhip Roses- and raise a toast to all those brave sweeties who have fought and continue to fight against cancer. A portion of the proceeds that day will be donated to St. Baldrick's, so DRINK UP!!!I And of course, please help spread the word and share the links to my profile page and the event!
And if you're ready to lose your locks yourself, I'm recruiting for our head shaving team, The Baldhip Roses-- please consider joining us, and get a head start on your carefree summer cut! Signing up is super easy at https://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/thebaldhiproses.
Thanks for reading,
Ananda
