Update 1/2/19: It looks like more people in my company are interested in donating, so I have increased the goal for a SECOND time! This is incredible! Thank you everyone <3
Update 12/31/18: UPDATED GOAL REACHED THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED AND SHARED! Special thank you to the president of my company, Ken Stanley who generously matched the donations. Thank you Mr. Stanley! The amount raised for this important cause is incredible. Thank you all so much.
Update 12/22/18: im still raising money and had to raise the goal. HOLY COW! =)
Special thank you to Edris Ellison for coming with me during the shave and taking wonderful pictures! Love you E!
Update 12/21/18: TODAY IS THE DAY! I'll be doing it around 1:30-2:00 EST. Out of respect for my husband who can't be there with me, I'm going to try and wait to upload pictures until he sees me first :) I can't wait! I am so blessed and so grateful for every single one of you who contributed. My heart can't thank you enough. I love each and every one of you. Merry Christmas!
Update 12/14/2018: 1 WEEK FROM TODAY IS THE BIG DAY! Thank you for all of your support! I can't wait to show everyone the results. And please know that during the shave, I will be thinking of the kids I'm honoring by fundraising for St. Baldrick's, along with every other kid who has ever had cancer. It's not brave to shave my head. It's just hair. What's brave is the kids and their families who go through treatment, hospitalizations, medications, side effects. And they don't have a choice. But they are positive and optimistic despite those obstacles. They have faith, and hope.
Brave: endure or face (unpleasant conditions or behavior) without showing fear.
I argue that showing fear and persevering anyway is true bravery. It doesn't matter if you're afraid - that's natural. That's human. What matters is the faith and hope you carry despite your fear. That's what makes each one of us brave and special.
<3 Happy holidays. <3 Love. And remember that as long as you keep your loved ones in your hearts, they will never be truly gone.
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Update 12/6/2018: Thank you to EVERYONE who has donated and shared so far!!! This organization means a lot to me. I hope you'll join me this holiday season in saying prayers, well wishes, or whatever your faith believes in lifting up these young souls and their families to give them strength now and always.
Keep them in your hearts.
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There are so many children in our community who can't be kids for the holidays. Their hearts are consumed with worry, fear, doubt. Grown up things. Things no kid should have to worry about.
While you're smelling cookies and Christmas dinner, they're smelling hospital disinfectant. Some are far away from their families. They don't get to experience the holiday lights, snow, Christmas trees.
But let's show them they're not alone in spirit. Let's send them light, love, positivity. I'm shaving my head in honor of Ellicott City resident Emily Davis and her family.
I know everyone's budget is tight around the holidays. But I please ask that you consider donating, no matter how small. Let's give childhood cancer a 1-2 punch for Christmas!!
