This is it!  This will be the tenth time(!) that I have shaved my head in solidarity with all the children who have gone bald in the course of their fight against cancer, and I have decided that it will be the last time I participate as a shavee.  Since 2010 you have helped me honor nine local children, raise a lot of awareness about this fight, and, most importantly, raise $14,824 to fund life-saving research.  But I have decided that there are only so many times that I can ask the same people to donate to the same cause.  So I am setting my goal this year at $5,176 to bring my lifetime fundraising to an even $20k.

I know this is an ambitious goal.  But I have a secret weapon: my last haircut was on October 28th, 2018.  That's right, I have been planning for this since the Republican Party had control of the House of Representatives (I skipped the 2019 event because I lived in Iowa City for a year, and I wanted my last event to be at Finn McCool's).  My plan was to grow my hair out long; little did I know it would grow out curly instead.  No matter, I figure that the more ridiculous it looks, the more I can raise.

I am fundraising in honor of three people.  Per tradition, I have chosen to honor a local child who is battling cancer, and this year that child is Amos Trumble of New Orleans.  I don't know Amos personally, but he embodies the kind of courage and resilience in the face of life-threatening disease that is always inspirational to adults yet somehow common in children.  You can read more about Amos here (https://www.nola.com/news/article_f86dfe2d-f14c-585d-840e-3c0217a7524b.html) or by clicking the link below.

I am also fundraising in memory of my father Wayne, who succumbed to colon cancer in 2016 after a ten-year battle.  Everyone who knew Dad knows that he was a light in my life and many others: an accomplished professional who never bragged, a Scoutmaster and volunteer who positively impacted countless lives, and a man who taught me that being strong doesn't preclude showing affection.  In this endeavor and others, I strive to honor him.

Finally, I am fundraising in honor of my mother Janet, who is bravely battling metastatic breast cancer.  Mom was first diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ in 2009, which was noninvasive until 2017, treated and thought to be in remission as of 2018, and then returned this year.  My Mom is the strongest person I know and a seasoned veteran in this fight; in addition to supporting her husband and mother through their cancer treatments, she is also a retired pediatric oncology nurse.  It was from her that I learned to think of others in need and always focus on the positive.

As always, I will be participating in the St. Baldrick's Day event at Finn McCool's Irish Pub in Mid-City New Orleans.  This year's event is on March 21st, 2020.  Over the past decade, Finn's has raised over one million dollars for childhood cancer research and their event is always a blast.  With a silent auction, raffle, music, food, drinks, games, and of course lots of people losing lots of hair, the St. Baldrick's Day event at Finn's is a great party for a great cause.  I hope you will consider getting shorn this year, or failing that, at least come and party.

Whether you get shaved, or come to Finn's to show your support, or make a donation, or just send kind thoughts, your support is greatly appreciated.  Without you none of this would work, but with your support we can make a world free of children's cancers.  Thank you very much.