(Tom, my husband, works with Patricks dad.) In his words: Every day, roughly 33 parents hear the life changing words, "Your child has cancer." And of those 12,000 children afflicted by cancer each year, approximately 2,500 of them will die as result. And as most of you know, this strikes me very close to home. Shortly after his 5th birthday in 2004, Patrick McSweeney was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL. We were thrown into a proverbial roller coaster as he battled for 38 months in chemotherapy treatment. But this is a roller coaster you are not strapped into - no lap bar, no seat belt, just hanging on, not knowing which drop, curve, or hill will be lurking next. Patrick's treatment was complicated by a cranial blood clot and pancreatitis, each of which are life threatening conditions, on top and as a result of chemotherapy for cancer. Patrick completed treatment in 2007. Or so we thought. After being off-treatment for 2-1/2 years, he relapsed in April of 2010. Relapse therapy has required many more hospital stays as the treatment istill chemotherapy, but at much, much stronger doses. His 70 pound body would be flooded with over a gallon of methotrexate in 24 hours several times during treatment. He is currently pounded with cytoxin once a week for four weeks every three months. Steroids wreak havoc with his blood sugar, putting him into a diabetic state. And to Patrick, this is normal. It is a world in which he has lived for nearly 8 years. His two year intense relapse chemotherapy treatment will be complete in August of this year. Patrick is a survivor. Research and clinical studies since the early 1960's have improved the odds of survival for children stricken by cancer. Back then, survival rates were 5%. Now the discussion is 5-year event free survival and long term survival. For ALL, the 5 year event free survival rate is approximately 85%, and long term rates are around 60%. 2012 marks the 6th year I have participated in St. Baldrick's. Shavees, such as myself, raise funds for St. Baldrick's in support of their mission which is to fund childhood cancer research. Of course, the bald head is in solidarity of the children that lose their hair during chemotherapy or radiation treatment. On March 11th, the hair on my head will be shaved at 4th Street Live. This needs to be a VERY expensive hair cut! Your generous donation on my head will fund research that will help improve the odds that another parent will hear, "Your child is CANCER FREE". Be a part of St. Baldrick's by using the link below to donate on my head. I would much rather lose my hair at 4th Street Live than pull it out during launch! Thank you. I've answered the call to be a hero! I'm having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures.

Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I'm really asking you to support these kids. Thank you!

Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.