Hello everyone,
I hope you’re doing as well as can be expected right now. The world has forever changed since the last St. Baldrick's event. In fact, the St. Baldrick's event held last year on March 7 was the last "normal" event that I attended. Thankfully, we will be able to support the St. Baldrick's Foundation again this year and raise money for childhood cancer research. The plan is to hold a small head-shaving fundraiser outside at our house on April 24.
If you are unfamiliar with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, they are the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants worldwide. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has funded more than $300 million in research grants to find cures for kids with cancer. Every 2 Minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. In the U.S. 1 in 5 will not survive. Since St. Baldrick’s began, the 5-year survival rate has risen from above 79% to almost 85%.
That is why I will be shaving my head (and beard) on April 24, and I would be honored if you supported me with a donation to help me exceed my fundraising goal of $5,000.
It has been a little over 8 years since our son Joe suddenly died of myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood cancer. He would be a sophomore in college now. Our team, 6 is a Serious Number, named in honor of Joe's #6, has raised $289,670 over the past 8 years (raising almost $46,000 last year). These St. Baldrick’s events are the best way that I know to make a difference for kids with cancer!
How St. Baldrick's Foundation helps save kids:
• $250 supports five hours of lab research leading to lifesaving discoveries.
• $500 funds twenty hours of research to improve patient and survivor quality of life.
• $1,000 helps pay for one child to be treated at their institution on a clinical trial, often their best hope for a cure.
Now I need your help! Will you help me reach my goal by making a donation? Or would you like to join our team and shave your head, standing in solidarity with kids who typically lose their hair during treatment?
Sadly, this year's event won't be like years past at Helen Fitzgerald's, but we are still going to ROCK THE BALD!!! In 2020, the event at Helen’s had 64 teams with 478 participants and raised over $467,000. We are going to contribute our share in 2021!
Thank you for being a hero to kids with cancer!