Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Billy. He was a wonderful and unique kid who loved to dance, and play the trumpet. He also loved his crazy hair! It wasn't long and flowing, or shiny and curly. In fact it was a mix of all of these things. Sometimes he was frustrated with it, since he didn't look like everyone else. And sometimes you just don't want to be different! But soon he came to love his hair, since it was as unique as he was! Then one day, he had heard of kids who didn't have hair. They had lost it from cancer treatments, and didn't have any control over it. They looked different, and sometimes people stared and whispered. This touched Billy, and he decided right away that he wanted to do something about it. So he set out to help join a group of warriors who would help fight childhood cancer in a way that he knew how..... by shaving his head! Now, it may not seem like such a courageous or even effective thing to do. What can shaving his head to to help fight such a terrible disease? Well, with the help of his loving and supportive mother, he spread the word about his quest. His goal was to raise $100 to help fund research for the treatment and cure of pediatric cancer. Unbeknownst to Billy, his mom decided to issue another challenge to her friends and family. If he was able to raise $300, his mother would shave her head too! His mother, a woman who enjoyed having long hair, knew that it would be a challenge to be without something that helped to aesthetically defined her. But cancer was anathema to her. Her own father passed away from the terrible disease when she was just 6 years old (stomach cancer and lymphoma). Then six months after that, her grandmother also died from cancer (pancreatic cancer). Like a dark specter, cancer affected her childhood and life. Over the years, she grew and cut her hair numerous times to help construct wigs for people who have lost their hair to cancer. Imagining one of her own children afflicted with the disease was unthinkable! Billy's mother was unsure whether he would be able to raise the $100 because there was just over a fortnight between then and the night of his stand against the terrible foe. But just two days after the call to arms. He had raised $355!!! So, true to her word, Billy's mother placed her name on the list. She would shave her head too. Not a courageous thing? Courageous enough to stand by her convictions and to do something voluntarily, that others may not have the choice. In the grand scheme of things, it's not so courageous. But it gave Billy and his mother the strength to raise more money than he thought possible. It gave children hope. It gave people purpose and the feeling of being a part of a community; being supported by friends and family, and even strangers. I am proud to be Billy's mother. Thanks for reading my story. If you would like to donate, click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.