Small sacrifice for a great cause

It’s been just over a month since my last haircut. It’s already starting to itch on my neck and creep across my forehead.
It’s curling around my ears.
It’s driving me nuts.
It’s OK. It’s worth it.
Because on March 28, I’ll step back into the Liberty Firehouse with (hopefully) a huge group of other people who have been growing their hair out to have it all shaved off.
In exchange, they’ll be taking your money over the next two months, socking it away to be shipped off the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, where the money will start helping doctors fight for our kids.
It’s going to help cure children’s cancer.
For four years, Sullivan County has offered its support to make a better future for our kids.
Here at the paper, I’ve written story after story about children struck by the threat of terminal illness. Some have fought against the dying of the light, some have fought and fought until the fight has left them.
Sitting with my little girl at night, I can’t forget them. I can’t forget the kids whose parents have poured out their souls to a newspaper reporter. I can’t forget that in return, these parents have gotten the support of a small community that suffers the same troubles as the rest of the country and still somehow puts up the money to try to ease the burden.
People care about kids.
They can show it in March by showing up at the Liberty Firehouse to put their heads – at least their hair – on the line. They can show it by writing a check even in troubled times.
They can stop by that day and egg us on or just hand over a small token of their support, a dollar for a raffle ticket, refreshments donated for the volunteers.
They can call Fay Cerullo, the woman who has taken charge of the St. Baldrick’s movement in Sullivan County since 2007 to ensure that other parents will never live her nightmares.
She had a child diagnosed with cancer. He’s now out of high school, attending college. He’s a survivor. He’s the kid we want all kids to become – a child who has grown up.
But childhood cancer remains the number one disease killer of American kids – that includes kids here in Sullivan County.
Some kids don’t get the chance to grow up.
A little itching and a few misplaced curls have nothing on that.
I’ll be shaving it all off on March 28 – will you be there?
For information on the event (or to donate), visit my "shavee site."

Add to Technorati Favorites