St. Baldri
ck’s Event- Cancer Awareness
You have heard about my feelings on small businesses and helping out locally and it is clearly one of my passions.
There are few things more devastating than being diagnosed with cancer, but it is often even more devastating if it is a child. This part of why I was pleased to be a part of the 12th Annual St. Baldrick’s Event hosted by Keaton Raphael Memorial. Sponsors were as varied as there are cancer patients. In particular: Westfield Galleria, Supercuts, Nicole Bremmer, Ringey Family, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Alpine Mortgage Planning, WindFarm Marketing, Gold Country Media, SureWest Foundation, Bell Brother痴, Westpark Communities, and Kaiser Permanente all had a hand in making the event happen.
On March 15th, the local Westfield Galleria raised some money for childhood cancer research. I say some, but in truth, it was an astonishing $121,672.54 – 100 percent going to the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Most who are enduring cancer treatments lose their hair, so 300 people, with 17 of them girls, shaved their heads as a sign of support and care for those who are taking treatments.
Dana Pearson of the Keaton Raphael Memorial was especially pleased with the number of elementary school students who participated. This helps those who are not suffering cancer appreciate those who are and build empathy with one another.
Two people stood out – Mark Bellows and Brian Clark who raised $7,340.00 and $4,305.00 respectively. Those who raised at least $50.00 received t-shirts, bracelets and buttons that shared information on why they shaved their heads.
Team Supercuts was on hand to shave heads, and they raised $17,302.00 – the most of any team who participated.
Others who participated: Bryce Webber – Cancer fighter who knighted seven people for seven years of head shaving and KCRA Chris Riva – Emcee. The youngest participant was Ashton Evaldson, age 5, who shaved his head in honor of a family friend who lost their fight.
Here are a few brief reasons why childhood cancer research is so important:
- Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every 3 minute· In the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease—more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined;
- Two-thirds of children treated for childhood cancer will suffer long-term effects from treatment including loss of hearing and sight, heart disease, secondary cancers, learning disabilities, infertility and more;
- In the last 20 years, only two new drugs have been specifically developed to treat children with cancer and
- Before they turn 20, about 1 in 300 boys and 1 in 333 girls will have cancer.
For me, this is plenty enough reason to offer my services to this noble cause and having lost two close childhood friends this past year to cancer made this event seem even more relevant and valuable.