There was a period of time during which cancer was constantly hitting members of my family and others around me, and I learned just how burdensome this disease is for patients and their loved ones. As a sophomore in high school, I started to regularly grow, cut, and donate my hair in an effort to do anything that I could to help patients in the process. About 6 years and 3 donations later, I have been presented with an even better and bigger opportunity to help. I've decided to make the ultimate cut: I'm shaving my head on April 12th at the UT Tower in support of childhood cancer research. There are a few significant differences between adult and childhood cancers, ranging from the different types of cancers to the way treatments affect still-growing human bodies, often causing life-long complications. Arguably the most important difference, though, is the large funding gap, as only about 4% of cancer research funding goes to childhood cancers. Still, cancer is the #1 cause of death by disease in children. 1 John 3 says "If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Dear children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." For this reason, and because this is a cause I care about, I'm not only volunteering to "brave the shave" as a symbol of my support, but I also plan to contribute monetarily because every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers. Please consider joining me by donating to the cause!