About a year ago, I lost my dad to lung cancer. It was less than a year from the time of his diagnosis, and those eleven months were the hardest times my family and I had ever experienced. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have a child go through the same struggles - what a tremendous burden it must be on the parents, the brothers and sisters, to say nothing of the struggle of the child facing the disease. I've joined the Saint Baldrick's foundation to try and help where I can. While it may seem silly to shave your head to try and raise awareness and donations, any help I can offer is better than nothing. Childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded, and I like to think that maybe some of these young fighters will see us supporting them and know that they have people rooting for them, working for them, helping them from the wings. While I'm participating as a member of the Krewe of Rolling Elvi (true Kings of charity if there ever were ones), I also decided to honor a child in Texas with my participation. I don't know Lucas personally, but I feel like I do: he's a stubborn fighter, a passionate protector of his friends and family, and he's relied on his imagination to get him through a lot of really difficult circumstances. I know what that feels like - driving back and forth over and over from Louisiana to Arkansas (where Dad was in hospital and hospice), I wouldn't have survived without the stories, podcasts, books-on-tape, etc that kept my imagination active and gave me a way to cope with everything. So I feel a kinship with Lucas, and I hope that you might as well (please check out his page for more information and lots of pictures!). Now I need your help! Will you make a donation? Every dollar makes a difference for the thousands of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting childhood cancers. ANYTHING HELPS. Skip a cup of coffee and donate $5. Donate $50. Donate anything you can - imagine you were in this situation with a member of your family (and I know a lot of people who have already found themselves there) and think about or remember what that support would mean to you. Together we can make a difference. Thank you, thank you very much, James