Can you think of anything more important than saving the life of a child?

In January, we lost Jeffrey “Hughey” Ryan, to lung cancer. He was our father and grandfather. Saying it’s been a tough start to the year would be an understatement. There isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t think about him. And there’s a day coming up that we’ll be thinking about him even more.

Jeff was a childhood cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager and had been in remission for nearly 40 years. As his way of raising awareness for childhood cancer, he shaved his head for more than 15 years at the St. Baldrick's Foundation event in Las Vegas.

Two years ago, Jeff was in Reno during the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation’s Shave for the Brave. So in addition to shaving his head with his employees and friends in Vegas, he also did it with his grandson Ellis, who was only 3 at the time. It was Ellis’ first event with St. Baldricks and one of Jeff’s last.

Now 5, Ellis, alongside his Uncle Colby, plan to shave their heads together at Shave for the Brave in a couple of weeks. They’ll be doing so for their dad and grandpa, who we all know will be right by their sides. 

Shave for the Brave is coming up on Friday, March 13th. Even if you can’t go, we’d love for you to consider donating to Ellis and Colby, as they fundraise to save the lives of childhood cancer survivors, just like their dad and grandpa ?