Since 2010, I've shaved my head five times to raise money in the fight against children's cancer. Altogether, I've raised over $10,000 on my own for this cause. I'm proud of that, but I want to do more, and this time, I want to honor the memory of my friend, Michael Hennessy. 

After a valiant fight with cancer himself, Michael passed away last November. 22 years ago, it was Michael Hennessy who introduced himself to me at an otherwise unremarkable gig in Ramsey, NJ. We connected over the course of the night, and he paid me a great compliment by inviting me to visit his hometown in Ireland and offering his help to find a few gigs there. I took his number down and my life was forever changed. 

Since then, I’ve visited this seaside village every summer to play music and connect with my friends in the community. His family are family to me, and Michael had become one of my dearest friends. His open-heartedness and generosity of spirit were without bounds. 

Michael was 73 when he passed, but there are children currently fighting this same battle that Michael fought. Let me say that again—children, babies, toddlers, teenagers. Struggling through chemo treatments. Praying for a breakthrough. Life hanging in the balance. If there's a way that I can help, I want to do that. Raising money to support cancer treatment research is a way to make a difference.

And so, to honor the memory of Michael, I open my heart, and my wallet, to this cause. 

I hope you will too.