I wanted to write a quick note requesting your help in a cause that has become important to me. Over
the last few years, I have become very familiar with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation through John Bender,
my colleague here at Allied World who is also Chairman Emeritus and one of the founders of St.
Baldrick’s. John’s passion for this great cause inspired me to learn more about the foundation and the
work that it does. The organization exists solely to raise money to fund childhood cancer research and
to raise awareness about what this terrible disease is doing to our children. Born in the insurance
industry, it has become tradition that each year leaders in our industry step up and shave their heads in
solidarity with the kids who typically lose their hair while going through treatment. I have decided it’s
my turn to stand up with these brave children.
In the way of background, each year 160,000 kids will be diagnosed with childhood cancer globally.
Sadly, one in every five of these children diagnosed will not survive. While cure rates are better than
they were 40 years ago, there has not been much improvement in the cure rates over the last decade. In
the United States, childhood cancer continues to kill more of our children then AIDS, Asthma, Diabetes,
Cystic Fibrosis and congenital anomalies combined. And while cure rates have improved during this
time, losing just one child to this horrible disease is more than any of us should be willing to accept.
While we are curing more kids today, the cure is often worse than the disease. We need to find a more humane cure that leaves the child cancer free and undamaged from the cure.
Thus, I humbly ask that you join in my efforts to raise money to fund life‐saving research. With help and support from all of you, the day will come when childhood cancer will be nothing but a bad memory.
The actual shaving will be done at Jim Brady’s Pub, which is located on Maiden Lane in
downtown New York on March 14th. If you are in town and would enjoy watching me get scalped,
please join us that day for a fun way to raise funds for the serious mission of finding a cure for childhood cancer.
Thank you in advance for your generous support!
Sincerely,
Lou