January 30th, 2013: in 45 days I will join the ranks of my inspiring family and so many members in our giving community-shaving off my long blond hair for childhood cancer awareness and fundraising. I can't wait to share why I am bald and whom I share this awareness for! So many kids... too many kids in our world need our support. I've seen the suffering from the impacts of cancer and I want to change it. My hair is such an easy thing to give up. In return, I can share awareness of our cause with the world. I ask you to unite on this mission with me. I want to do everything in my power to change the future for our kids. There is a very large gap in funding for childhood cancer research. That is where St. Baldrick's comes in. Funding promising research specifically for kids cancer research.
Our family has been impacted by childhood cancer-our 9 year old son Klaus Dragon (centered above) has been living with what is called a chronic cancer condition for 6 years now. He has a very rare soft tissue sarcoma called Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic tumors. What started as a pea size lump in his mouth, eventually spread to his jaw, lymphatic system, and then the worst news of all, into all 4 quarters of his lungs. His only cure has been multiple surgeries with his longest being 12 1/2 hours long. We wish this disease was gone. But knowing the devastation of cancer, we are grateful because the sarcoma in his lungs has been stable for the last 3 years. A gift indeed! We know how fortunate our son and family are because of the stability of Klaus' sarcoma. This incredible gift of "time" gives us the opportunity to use our voices and our shining bald heads to share the need for research for kids just like Klaus. That's why our entire family is going bald this year. That's why Klaus' Aunt Laura and Cousin Mitch are joining us in Boulder to go bald. That's why we proudly lead a team called The Dragon Warriors. We ask you to join us in our message to the world. Please join our team, donate to researchers who will find the cures, spread awareness to the world that our kids need us.
We believe that with time and research, more cures will be found. We share HOPE that with awareness=funding=research=cures.
We ask for your support so other children will not have to endure the long term consequences of toxic treatments, deforming surgeries, emotional scars, and the loss of life too soon. Thank you for helping us get this done. Together we unite to make a difference for our children and all generations to come. Our family sincerely thanks you.
