This is something I feel passionately about and I hope you'll take a moment out of your day or night to give it a read. Take a time-out from the hectic pace of work and life and all that seems important, and reflect on something that could, but hopefully never will, change your life forever: having a child battling cancer. Stop and imagine what that would mean to you, how your priorities would change, how your child's "success" would be measured…. And be thankful for what you have. (By the way, I know some of you reading this have had a child dealing with a serious illness – you are foremost in my thoughts as I write this.) This will be my 7th year participating in the St. Baldrick's event, which serves both to raise funds for research focused on childhood cancer and to promote awareness of and stand in solidarity with those children fighting the disease. As its name implies, it involves shaving one's head. If you've seen me recently, you KNOW I need a haircut desperately (perhaps not a head-shaving, but certainly a haircut) -- see picture for the evidence… ;^) I have only seen part of the reality of childhood cancer, the lows and the the highs experienced by the people I've seen and met at the St. Baldrick's event. I've met parents whose children are fighting cancer and are there to inspire those of us shaving our heads, reminding us it truly makes a difference. There are the parents there who have lost their child to cancer and yet volunteer every year, in hopes that others won't have to go through what they have (the reality is that many more will). One of the most exciting aspects of this year's St. Baldrick's event has to do with a child, a family, I met 6 years ago when I first shaved my head. At that time Connor had been recently been diagnosed with cancer and was bald from treatment. Both his dad AND MOM (and a host of their friends) shaved their heads, beginning a journey that they did not know how it would end. I saw them every year since then, and year-in year-out they, like all the parents at the event with sick children, were amazingly gracious and thankful of all the people who came forward and shaved their heads to help others. (One of my favorite years was the time Connor was back, was into hockey, and had long hair --- it was touching to see him shaving his head.) As I mentioned, this is year 7 for me, and it's an especially memorable year as Connor treatment has ben declared successful since he's been cancer-free for 5 years! My parents' first child, my oldest sister Karen, died from cancer. I was never directly impacted by her passing (she died before I was even born), just as most of you reading this I know are not impacted by childhood cancer (be thankful). But I cannot even begin to imagine what my parents went through (they pretty much never talked about it), nor I can I fathom how I would handle that burden. Upon speaking to my mom recently she mentioned how the cancer my sister had, Neuroblastoma, is almost always curable/treatable these days… research works and a lot more kids are alive because of it. Connor's story is one success and I'm thrilled to know Connor and his family, and I look forward to seeing them again this year (yes, they will return year after year to do their part to help others)! Unfortunately there is a lot more work to be done, and a lot more people whose children are still battling cancer and waiting for new cures. Because of this, I'm asking for your support, donation and story. Thank you SO much for taking the time to read my not-so-little but heartfelt blurb here. I look forward to seeing you soon, either with long and unmanageable hair, or with a smoothly shaved pate. I sincerely hope this note finds you and yours healthy and happy in 2013. -Bill P.S. My 15 year old son, Thomas, will be participating for his 5th year this year. With the baseball season coming up, he is getting some flak for having his hair grow a tad on the long side, but he has one of the few excuses that will let him get by for a while: "it's for a good cause." If you'd like to support a kid who's doing his part to fight childhood cancer, you can do so via his link below. I know he'd love your support. http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ThomasMay