How to Shave a Life
One month from today, I’ll be shaving my head for the second time in 5 months. It will be the fourth time overall that I’ve gone bald for a cause, and I’m going to need your help raising money. I want to raise $2,000 in the next month. You can donate on my head here.
The cause is the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. They are a firm dedicated to raising money to fund research and cures for childhood cancers. Each year, 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the United States. It is the number one killer in children. Basin Electric, my employer, started North Dakota’s first St. Baldrick’s event in 2008. To date, we have raised more than $350,000 for childhood cancer research. To date, I’ve raised more than $4,500 personally for St. Baldrick’s. This year, our theme is Shave a Life, and we’re taking this puppy community wide. Jimmy Kleinsasser, of the Minnesota Vikings, has even donated a signed jersey and football that we are going to auction off.
Readers of this blog know that cancer has weighed heavily on my mind for months now, as Shannon continues fighting (and winning) her battle with breast cancer. Last October, as she was losing her hair to chemotherapy, I stood up and shaved my head along with her – without raising a single penny. I was proud to do it, and even more proud of her and the grace and humility she has shown since this ordeal began.
Friends and visitors to this blog also know that I am personally conflicted when it comes to single purpose cancer charities. As much as breast cancer is at the top of my list, I’ve lost too many loved ones to lung cancer, multiple myeloma, liver cancer, etc. You name it, someone I know has it. But my conflict only goes so far. As much we all endure what I call Pink Overload during October, these single purpose efforts really aren’t single purpose at all. They all have one driving goal. The complete and utter eradication of cancer from the planet.
So whether your funding research to cure childhood cancer through St. Baldrick’s or funding breast cancer research through the Komen Foundation, cancer is cancer. Cancer doesn’t care if your 6 or 60. It will kill you if given the chance. So let’s do everything we can to stop it in its tracks. We have to start somewhere, and this month I’m starting with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
I hope you’ll join me.
P.S. My partner in crime with the Red Wild Show, Scott Wild, is hosting the first ever 24-hour Trivia event in Bismarck on February 25, 2011, at The Elks Lodge. All proceeds from the event will go to benefit St. Baldrick’s. If you’re in Bismarck, and want to come out, sign up at 24hourtrivia.com and get a team going. Or join a team already in progress at the event. We’re going to go from 5 pm Friday to 5 pm Saturday. On Saturday, bring your kids for some kid-friendly trivia, like Disney and Nickelodeon. You don’t want to miss this.
Thanks for the mention of the 24 Hour Trivia event. I look forward to getting involved as a “shavee” myself this year.
Like I said before, you are a man among men.
Keep up the good fight!