Volunteering at this wonderful event in Cleveland Heights has been a family affair since its inception. Pediatric cancer hit very close to home when our dear friends Krissy and Mark Gallagher first heard the dreaded diagnosis immediately after we had all spent a lazy week together at their lake house. My daughter's classmate and friend, Rebecca, was taken by brain cancer at age six. Our beloved neighbors Mr. Matt and Mo lost a son to childhood brain cancer.
Through St. Baldrick's Foundation and Krissy's wonderful event in Cleveland Heights, we have learned that childhood cancer is different from adult cancers. And childhood cancer research is extremely underfunded. This is why we have volunteered and raised money each of the last seven years.
Lola chopped off her hair for St. Baldrick's and Olive bravely shaved her head!
Last year, Lola and I were "knighted" for seven years of service. It was a lovely moment, but I felt rather undeserving. I haven't been brave enough to shaved my head. So I decided on that stage that it was time that I stand up for this cause to which I have committed.
So this is the year I'm shaving. And I better raise a boatload of money! Because let's think about what's happening here:
-First there's the blow to my vanity to go through life as a 44 year old woman with a shaved head
-Then we throw in the fact that my too-short-to-color very grey hair will be on full display
- and finally I'll have to go through the painful grow-out (this is really the worst part)
Clearly, all of this pales in comparison to the pain of a cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, or worse, lack of treatment options. So I'm doing what I can to raise money for cures.
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.
