I'm shaving my head again this year (nineth year)  to raise money for childhood cancer research! This will be my last year shaving.  I would like to finish strong and with a large donation to an organization that has my heart and always will. 

Did you know that kids' cancers are different from adult cancers? It's true and childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. So I decided to do something about it by raising money for cures.

Until late 2021, I worked at Brenner Children's Hospital on the Pediatric Oncology Team. I retired in 2021 and now work in my local school district. Pediatric Oncology remains near and dear to my heart.  This year I am shaving  in honor of my dear friend and super oncology nurse, Nancy Smith.  Nancy recently retired after 49 years for serving children with cancer.  She was and remains a treasured person in the lives of families that are fighting childhood cancer. 

I have shaved each year by choice for children that do not have a choice. Being bald gives me opportunity to have conversations with people about pediatric cancer and how underfunded it is. When I started this journey, I committed to staying bald an extra 30 days for every year that I shave. This means I will be bald for the next 9 months. That less that the time that some children are bald from their treatments. Once my hair starts growing back those conversations go away. I do not want to stop having the occasion to increase awareness for this ravaging disease.

There are several scholarships, in honor of students that died from cancer, that are offered in my area. Working in the school system, I see first hand the challenges that can face children that have been treated. I am shaving to do my part to prevent any further scholarships having to be started for children who succumb to this terrible disease. I would love for year 9 to be my biggest year yet.

Now I need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers. Your gift will give kids hope, supporting the best research across the country, through the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants.Cancer kills more of our kids than any other disease. Will you help? Thank you!

A challenge among friends 25 years ago has become the largest volunteer movement to Conquer Kids’ Cancer. This year, I’m joining thousands of others to shave my head to raise money for childhood cancer research!

Did you know, 1 in 5 kids diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. won’t survive? For those who do, more than 96% have severe or life-threatening conditions by the time they are 50.  I curently have a dear friend who has a family member that is fighting a secondary malignancy.  That means they had cancer and it was effectively treated but the treatment they received has contributed to their developing another cancer.  This has got to be stopped. 

Each shaved head, every dollar donated, creates a ripple effect of progress for kids with cancer. Your gift will give kids and their families hope, supporting the best research across the country, through the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Together, let’s give these kids the lifetime they deserve. Thank you for your support!