Why am I shaving my head with St. Baldrick’s? Because I love my friend Martha, who died of cancer last year. And my friend Aurelia, who is only 9 like me, and is bravely battling cancer. I want to help. Please help me help other kids. I just wrote my autobiography for school, and I think it explains how important this is to me and my family. I really hope you'll give generously to this important cause! #forevermarthastrong (We called her MarMar) 

The Autobiography of Dalila Hobbs 

 Dalila, not to be confused with the flower… though I do enjoy being in nature. Hold on to your hats (btw I love hats), because there’s a lot more I am going to tell you about myself including personal information, impactful moments, and hobbies. Warning: this autobiography is not going to be all unicorns and rainbows. I suppose we should start at the very, very, very beginning. 9 years ago a healthy baby girl was brought into the world at about 8:00 am on April 12, 2013 in Boulder Community Hospital. That's me, Dalila May Hobbs, a 4th grader at BCSIS (but we’ll get to that a little bit later). I’ve grown up like any other kid. I got a sweet, active, kind energetic puppy who we named Blueberry. 

My family is really close to our neighbors, but I was especially close with Martha (one of their four children). She was 11 years older than me, but we didn’t care. Together we played, laughed and lots more, but when I was 2 my life was changed forever. Martha was diagnosed with cancer. At that age I didn’t know what cancer was or what it could do to her or to any person. Now I understand. 

After the diagnosis, chemo was the first step to a normal life/ healing (chemo is a treatment for healing cancer). While doing chemo some people lose their hair – Martha was one of those people. Some people called her a boy, but she didn’t care what they called her. I experienced this too, when I decided to shave my head (the first time when I was 7) in support of Martha and childhood cancer. I raised more than $5,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. 

With each of the 7 years that Martha fought her cancer, I grew to understand more and more the dangers of this disease. One day I was in school when the classroom phone rang. I was being picked up but I didn't know what for. At first my mind went to happy thoughts like maybe we're going to Disneyland or to something fun. But when I got to the car my brother and mom had long faces and were quiet. I knew something was wrong. Then my mom leaned over and said, “Martha is not doing too well, and she is going to die.” 

 Those words felt like someone had just stabbed me in the heart. I will never forget that day. From there we drove to my dad’s work, told him the news, and went to the hospital together. The car drive was such an uncomfortable silence. When we got there my brother and I weren't allowed to go into her room, so my parents went up and Martha’s siblings came down to keep us company. It wasn’t until she went back to her house that I got to see her again. Lots of family and friends came to see her from far and wide. Her teammates from Boulder High’s mountain biking team even came one day and rode around the house cheering. Watching this moment happen was very bitter sweet. 

 Two days after, I woke up and my parents said, “Martha has passed.” I was speechless. Then mom said, “She passed peacefully in her sleep at 7:00 ish, after her mom (Margaret) told her she could let go.” Suddenly all the good times we had raced through my mind like a bull charging straight at you. The times we cooked, baked, and laughed…but the strongest bonding times we ever had were when we crafted together. I miss these moments, and I think I always will. 

 I don’t get to craft with Martha anymore, but it is still one of my favorite hobbies. I really just enjoy anything that allows me to use my imagination and love for hands-on activities. Maybe this is why I also love climbing, skating and playing piano. Climbing is kinda therapeutic for me. It gives me a way to push my limits and forget about everything that's happened or is going to and just climb. It's such a cool feeling to be on the wall. It feels like you are free but at the same time you're safe. When I was almost 9 I went crack climbing in Utah on Potash road with my friend and his family. It was my first time climbing outside and it was crack climbing where you wedge your hands and feet in a crack (sometimes even your whole body!!). I was scared but very excited all at the same time. It was intimidating. Especially the looong crack…the idea my foot or hand could get stuck was always in the back of my mind! It was hard, but I did it. It was a 5.10+ but it felt like a 5.11 to me. 

After that I started believing in myself more and more. If I keep believing in myself more and more, who knows where my path will take me. I do know that in all of my future crafting, climbing, ups and downs, and every other adventure Martha will be by my side every step of the way.

 ******** Kids with cancer need our support now more than ever. St. Baldrick’s is the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants, and the pandemic has slashed donations, slowing down the progress to find cures. Cancer kills more of our kids than any other disease. Research can change that, and I don’t want to let these kids down. Can you help? Thank you so much!