I can't imagine what it must be like to be a kid with cancer. In a perfect world this would never happen. Even tougher is to be the parent or family member of a child with this disease. How can you not want to do something to help out, even if it's in some small way to show your support.
One of my personal hero's is Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt. Dr. Schmidt is a pediatric oncologist who "did the St. Baldrick's thing" last year. The minute I saw her a day or so later with her shaved head I realized what true empathy is. I think this is the first time she's even hearing me say this but she is such a strong and positive role model for folks like us who are fortunate to not have had to grow up with pediatric cancer in our family.
So when Joel Karman asked me if I would shave my head if he could raise $1000 for St. Baldrick's I said "sure" without hesitation. It was the right thing to do. You could say that "it's only hair and it'll grow back" but it's really more than that. It's saying to the kids up on the peds unit that you're there for them and this is my way to show it.
I'm asking you to join me in showing your support to the these patients and to following the example Dr. Schmidt has given us. Let's show the kids on the peds unit how much we're there for them.
Joel then upped the ante and asked me if I would shave my moustache. Now this is getting serious. I've had this moustache for 31 years. It's in the wedding photo's. Maybe it was a bit scrawny but it's still there. Maybe it is more grey than ever but it's been with me for a long, long time. No amount of asking or cajoling has succeeded in getting me to remove it, to date anyway.
I told Joel that if he could raise $10K I'd shave the moustache. I will, word of honor, if he can do this. My wife said she'd even donate $100 to see the moustache come off. My brother and two sisters said they'd make a donation if I would shave the moustache off. I'm starting to get a little anxious about losing my moustache. 31 years is a long time.
So here's a chance to help the kids. What do you say?
Al