When I was seven years old I spent my entire summer vacation, and eighth birthday, in the hospital as the result of a serious accident. On days I felt well enough for more stimulation than watching Bob Ross paint happy little clouds from my bed, I was allowed to sit in the Pediatric Playroom for a while.

Even at seven years old I did not really understand cancer.

I have very fond memories of some of the kids I made friends with in the Playroom that summer. I will never forget when my mother explained to me that some of my friends were very sick and might never get well or get to grow up. As weak, ill and helpless as I felt that summer my mother assured me it would pass and I would get well.

Less than 50 years before my illness there was a very high probability that I would have died. Advances in medical technology not only increased my chances of a full recovery to near certainty but I was lucky enough to make medical history in receiving a new treatment that decreased my recovery time and residual injury substantially.

I will never forget the friends I made in the Playroom that summer and how lucky I was to live at a time when medical advances made it possible for me to survive.

Let's speed up the development of new treatments and finally find cures for all childhood cancer.

I'm having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids 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. Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I'm really asking you to support these kids. Thank you! Click "Make a donation" to give online, or donate by phone or mail.