2020 is the year of turning 60, quite a thing for those of us who are dabbling in that arena.

The thought occurred to me to try to raise 60K in my 60th year and hopefully we can gather friends and family and Team Kyra can have 60 plus people. We might go for the biggest team ever in St.Baldricks history, but for sure we'll be the biggest team wearing red shoes.

#WearRedShoesforKyra

It's more than likely that I am not going to shave in 2020; in so doing I hope to gather a fabulously large team and of shavees and non-shavees, all doing what works for them to raise funds for Team Kyra.

For 13 years now, since our first St.Baldricks event in 2006, I am grateful to be part of an amazing community of friends who have stepped up for pediatric cancer research.

Research Saves Lives. It's the logo on Team Kyra socks. Words that are a call to action. 3.8% of funding to kids cancer research is not enough.

Kyra's initial diagnosis turned out to be 'incorrect'. Kyra was diagnosed as having Choroid Plexus Carcinoma. Ten years later Kyra's pediatric neuro oncologist determined she had AT/RT (Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor). He was able to determine this by micro chipping her tumor. This happened because of research.

St.Baldricks funds all the major research institutions and hospitals nationwide and internationally. As a parent who is told that their child has cancer, I am certain I speak for us all that we for sure need to know that we are fighting the correct cancer with the correct protocol for the best possible outcome.

Without research we cannot move forward and continue to give kids the best possible option to fight their disease.

All kids deserve this and its up to us to speak up for them.

I am proud that this year all the funding from Team Kyra specifically will go to all cutting edge brain tumor research.

I feel pretty sure that Kyra would be proud of all of us for stepping up.

If you've read this so far I thank you from the bottom of my heart.