I've answered the call to be a hero! I'm having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with KIDS -- specifically school-age kids to young adults -- 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. This will be my third year as a volunteer photographer and production assistant and my first time as a "hero." So you might ask, "Why would you shave your head?" Well, for the children with cancer(s) who need treatment and are strong enough to go through radiation therapies to halt or destroy their disease, losing hair is often part of the process; the radiation makes these children bald. That may not seem like a big deal for a young boy who likes a short summer haircut, but just imagine a beautifully "girly" 10 year old with long curly hair tied up in ribbons and bows. Daddy's girl. Princess of the block. Mommy's helper. When she goes through painful treatments, radiation steals all her hair away over her summer vacation. She has to cope with attending her very first day at a new middle school... Bald. No curls. No ribbons. No bows. But she'll go. And she'll be tough. Because kids with cancer are fighters. They never give up, they never give in. But even the toughest little girl knows that it isn't just hair. It's her identity. It's what makes boys look twice. It's what her mom used to brush out at night and talk about what it was like when she was growing up at the same age. It means something. It meant something. It's important. And now it isn't there. So to show solidarity with all those brave kids both boys and girls, along with their parents, neighbors, friends and relatives, we will voluntarily shave our heads so we all look just as beautiful together. Adults know that true beauty comes from within but to a child it can take some serious reassuring to say the least. At a St. Baldrick's shaving event, witnessing hundreds of people with full heads of hair, men AND women, shave their heads ON PURPOSE and go bald as children in various stages of treatment look on, laugh, cry and occasionally take the clippers in hand themselves is nothing short of inspirational. As a parent of three very healthy boys, I become more grateful for their health with every event and every blessed day they beat the odds of being struck with any childhood disease -- particularly the evils of Cancer. Because I believe in the concepts of "paying forward" and Karma, I feel I have an ethical and spiritual responsibility to give what I can to those kids and parents who haven't been as fortunate. Their collective and individual strength is amazing. These boys and girls always remain hopeful that a cure, remission or a miracle is right around the corner, and the parents never show their fear or fatigue when they go through countless hospital visits, testing, procedures and traveling the country beside their kids. Imagine the emotional toll on the adults who know all too well that hope alone is not the same as a cure, or a new molecule that can end the destruction and pain their child is enduring. To see the look in the eyes of these children, and to soak in their positive spirit at an event like this will change your life. You might cry. You might have a moment of caring for parents you never met. You might decide to do something and join in next time around. No matter your experience, I challenge you to join me at this event or one like it, and walk away without feeling like a different, more informed and better person. Come out to downtown Romeo, Michigan on March 10th! Look for Michele, Chance, London and Brixton along with hundreds of exceptional people at the 2012 St. Baldrick's Foundation live event! There will live music, DJs, a parade down Main Street plenty to eat and drinks for all ages. The 50/50 raffle and prizes during the day are top shelf, and in addition to the event, many of Romeo's downtown restaurants and lounges are also participating in their own ways with donation opportunities and many live bands -- particularly some great groups highlighting the favorite songs of March... All your favorite Irish tunes! It's just another great reason to bring the family for a day of fun and fundraising! To see the entire schedule of event for Romeo, MI cut and paste, or bookmark the following URL and please, PLEASE, share with friends: http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/1314/2012/ If you can't make it, you can donate from afar via this page. My initial goal is to raise a humble $250 from friends and family, and see where it goes from there! Thanks for taking the time to care, and have a Happy St. Baldrick's Day!