Dear Friends,
In years past, I have donated to, attended, and participated in St Baldrick's events and was touched by the cause. This will be my second year as a shavee and I have decided to up to ante by shaving both my beard and head!
For those of you not familiar with St Baldrick's, at St. Baldrick's events all throughout the year, volunteers shave their heads, raising funds for research. Like runners in a marathon, “shavees” collect donations from family, friends and associates. The Foundation receives these funds and makes grants to research experts to find new and better treatments for fighting kids’ cancer.
Quick History: On March 17, 2000, reinsurance executives Tim Kenny, John Bender and Enda McDonnell turned their industry’s St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. The three planned to raise “$17,000 on the 17th,” recruiting 19 colleagues to raise $1,000 each to be shorn. Instead, the first St. Baldrick’s event raised over $104,000! The event had a life of its own and quickly grew into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research!
Since 2000, St. Baldrick’s has raised more than $69 million by hosting more than 2,500 events and shaving more than 108,000 heads in 24 countries and all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The Foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child.
Please make a donation on my behalf to support childhood cancer research so that all children diagnosed with cancer will have a better chance for a cure. The website contains further information on the children we are trying to help, ways to donate, and the day of the event (should you want to witness the shaving in person!).
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
Eric
Shavee ID# 367650