To All of My Friends and Family: This is going to be a long message. I’m sorry. But I hope you’ll take the time to read it anyway. It is a request for help with a cause that is very important to me, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. What is St. Baldrick’s, you may ask. It’s a national foundation that is completely volunteer driven to raise money for childhood cancer research. No, I do not have kids. Before doing volunteer work, I had never known a child with cancer, or a childhood cancer survivor (that I was aware of). It’s not a requirement. I have watched many adults I love suffer through the battle with cancer, and if I can do ANYTHING at all to save a child from having to go through that battle, I will do it. Our local St. Baldrick’s Chapter will be holding our Shave-A-Thon this year at Mickey Finn’s in Victor on Sunday, April 14. Oh….I can hear you asking….What is a Shave-A-Thon? It’s very similar to a Walk-A-Thon. Participants have their friends, family and co-workers sponsor them, and on April 14, the participants show up at Mickey Finn’s and our volunteer barbers shave their heads! No, you do not HAVE to have your head shaved to help. Trust me, I’m not having mine done. So how can you help? Share this information with your friends, family, co-workers, sports teams, scout groups, kid’s school clubs. Participate as a group and use it as a team-building exercise. So far, I know of one youth soccer group from Gates and the Roc City Roller Derby who will be participating as groups. I’m sure there are more. We have fliers to be put up. If you have a place to post one, contact me and I will make arrangements to get them to you. Volunteer to help out. Not only will we be shaving heads, but we will be having a silent auction, raffle, kids craft area and more! We are also in need of a couple roving photographers. Donate! Go to our website. Donate to the event. Make a cash donation to a participant; we have many groups shaving in honor of a child with cancer. Donate an item or service that we can auction off. Donate to help defray some of the costs of running the event. Any money that has to be spent comes out of pocket for the event managers. Oh….and of course, come out and be SHAVED!!!! At the very least, think about the kids with cancer and pass this on to as many people as possible. Getting the word out is the most important part. If you want more information or want to participate, contact me or go to our website, www.stbaldrick.org/events/mickeyfinns2013. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for thinking of the kids! Laurie