Many of you don't know that my dad had cancer when I was four years old. Tongue cancer to be specific. They had to cut out a third of his tongue because the cancer was so aggressive that the weeks of chemo he went through weren't enough. I remember the tube they put in his stomach so he could "eat", I remember the first time he came home without his mustache, I can remember all the times I had to taste his food to make sure he could eat it because the chemo destroyed his taste buds and made his teeth so incredibly fragile, I can remember every time he got so frustrated because people couldn't understand what he was saying and I can recount all the times I've acted as his translator. And he was a full grown, healthy man when he was diagnosed. Can you imagine such a disease affecting a child? St. Baldrick's is an organization that focuses specifically on childhood cancer. Not only is the money used to find cures to the many different cancers that have still to be learned and navigated through, it is also used to prevent the life-long damage cancer causes. Children diagnosed with cancer suffer chronic health problems due to the treatments they were given as kids.

I'm honoring the wonderful spirit of the brave and beautiful Caroline Richards, who fought and lost to osteosarcoma (bone cancer). She was only 12 years old. She loved to bake, "bearing freshly baked goods and making friends with all the neighbors", she liked to go shopping with her friends, she even had a pet hedgehog named Herbert. She loved Christmas and Easter because she got to give gifts to her loved ones.

'“She was a ‘giver’ and loved to share happiness. She once told me how much she loves to just make people laugh.”'

http://www.stbaldricks.org/blog/tag/caroline

Cancer is a bully. It takes it's victims and wears down spirits and beats up their bodies. We were all taught to stand up to our bullies, to ask for help from our friends and our loved ones, and to never let our spirits grow faint. We might not have had to deal with bullying ourselves, but we shouldn't stand by and watch others suffer. I'm asking you today to stand up to this bully. I'm asking you to donate to a noble and worthy cause: to save lives and prevent pain for children who have suffered an unmeasurable amount of it.

I'm trying to raise $1500 dollars before April 12th, the day that I will shave my head with pride for a cause that I believe in with all my heart. Anything you can give, whether it be a dollar or twenty bucks, is going towards this amazing cause. If everyone I knew on facebook gave a dollar, I'd almost be done! (I gots them fb friends u kno) For those of you who are religious and are sacrificing something for Lent, think about donating the money that you'd otherwise spend on coffee or chocolate or meat (or whatever you gave up!). For those of you who have jobs, think about giving a small donation of $10-$20 bucks! For those of you who are just super excited that I'm shaving my head, please donate 5 bucks! TRUST ME WHEN I SAY IT ADDS UP. Please help me reach my goal, please donate. Please give to the memory of Caroline and to all the children who have lost their lives to cancer. Please give to all the children who are fighting each and every day to stand up to their bullies. Don’t make them fight by themselves. Don't let them stand alone. 

Thank you for taking the time to read all that. And a premature thank you to all of you who are going to help me in my fight to stand against cancer.

Truly and most sincerely,

"Soon-to-be-bald" Clarissa