Everyone knows that cancer sucks. All of us have been affected by its terrible reach, often very close to home. It seems even more tragic when kids get sick.
Hardly a week goes by that doesn’t bring news of a child falling victim. The numbers are frightening: Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes, and childhood cancer kills more U.S. kids than any other disease.
But we are making progress. The stories begin in tragedy, but they don’t have to end that way. While research is continually discovering new methods of treatment, the funding of this research is always trailing the need. This is where you can help.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. They’re working to write as many happy endings as possible.
We’re lining up — five Rare Birds and my son — to have our heads shaved in honor of these tough kids in the fight of their young lives. What we need you to do is line up alongside and support our effort with a donation. We end up with our heads shaved, you end up feeling great, and the kids get a better shot at winning. What could be better than that?
In the words of Cyndee Pelton, RN, CRC, a pediatric hematology-oncology nurse, “Research matters. One person’s hair on the floor means less hair loss on a child’s hospital pillowcase.”
Note that we’ve decided to make shaving our heads for St. Baldrick’s part of our 20th Anniversary “Good Deeds & Good Times” celebration at the suggestion of Brad Meiser. Brad (above, left) has long been a part of the flock and has been a faithful St. Baldrick’s shavee for nearly as long. In fact, Brad has earned the distinction of becoming a Knight of the Bald Table for his seven-year participation. We’ve supported Brad’s efforts over the years and couldn’t say no when he asked us to join the ranks of the newly shorn. All of us are excited to follow in his barber chair for this great cause!