For the last few years I’ve looked for places and causes where we could volunteer as a family. I’ve found rare things like envelope stuffing, collecting food, garage sales for worthy causes, and things like that. I want my children to realize that not everyone is as fortunate as we are. I want them to have a spirit of giving. They are too young though to work at the Humane Society or the zoo. They are too young to do house construction. They are too young for a lot of things.
And yet my twin fourth graders came home last week talking about shaving their heads for childhood cancer. Their teacher and several of their classmates are participating in St. Baldrick’s. The idea is that people sponsor you to shave your head. The money goes to childhood cancer research, and the bald head is seen as a sign of solidarity for children who have lost their hair from cancer treatments.
St. Baldrick’s is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Every year, thousands of volunteers shave their heads for donations. In the last eight years, they’ve held events in eighteen countries and 46 US states. They’ve raised an amazing $34 million, and have shaved more than 46,000 heads.
I’m so proud that my children want to do this. They both have rather long hair, and are a little proud of how “cool” they look with their wild wavy hair. But they are willing to shave their heads.
You may be wondering how their shaving their heads is a family fun project. We sent out a message to family and friends about St. Baldrick’s. The message got forwarded to other relatives and their friends. So many people have taken an interest in this project. The boys have gotten donations from friends and relatives they don’t even really know. It’s been fun to dig out pictures and explain who these people are.
We have a month before the shaving heads event. I’ve been teasing them that it’s a free hair cut.
I’m so proud of my boys. I’m proud that they decided to do this on their own.
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