Hi!  This is Beck, an 8th grader from Brooklyn, NY.  Soon after beginning 6th grade, Beck developed some confusing symptoms and was diagnosed with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Beck's first year of battling cancer was really tough.  It was a blur of diagnosis, tests, chemotherapy, surgeries, infections, blood and plasma transfusions, side effects, clinic visits, hospital stays, doctors, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and much more.  Beck's school and adolescent life were on hold, as he and his family learned to take life one day at a time.  He is now back to school and sports and a more "normal" life, though his chemotherapy treatment is far from over. Beck was declared to be in remission a few months after his diagnosis; however, leukemia can remain undetected in the body, so the standard protocol is for chemotherapy treatment to extend well beyond remission -- 3 1/2 years for boys, due to their likelihood of relapse.  Beck was diagnosed just before turning 12, and he is scheduled to continue his chemotherapy treatment through the age of 15.  It's a long road for these children. St. Baldrick's has been an instrumental part of Beck's cancer journey.  Very importantly, his chemotherapy protocol is part of a research study of the Children's Oncology Group, one of the organizations funded by St. Baldrick's and its thousands of wonderful shavees. In 2016, Beck helped to shave his mom's head after their community came together to raise over $23,000 for St. Baldrick's at Candlelighters NYC's Hero Celebration!  And St. Baldrick's has brought boosts of fun and engaged living to Beck through events like helping him to be honored as Bailey's Buddy at a NY Islanders hockey game and connecting Beck with Chicago Fire goalkeeper (and childhood cancer survivor!) Matt Lampson and his LampStrong foundation -- both super exciting and inspiring moments for Beck. Being a shavee or a donor for St. Baldrick's is a terrific way to support a really important cause in a real and direct way.  Children's cancer research is notoriously underfunded, and we've been impressed with how St. Baldrick's directs funding to concrete research and support. Thank you so much for getting involved!