Forward Friday – 11/2/2018

This weeks highlight goes to St Baldricks.

We have been involved with St Baldrick’s since 2008. My husband has raised money and shaved his head for 11 years. Both our daughters have cut their hair in years past, Emma 3 times and Ava once both raising money in honor of Ava and ALL the children. Last year Strength for Ava raised over $24,000 pushing the event total over $71,000. Our community, Bondurant got involved by creating an annual event in 2010 and we are hoping to break the 1 million mark this year.

What is St Baldricks?

The name St. Baldrick’s is a mashup of St. Patrick’s Day and the word “bald” — two things which sum up the humble beginnings of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a childhood cancer foundation that funds grants for childhood cancer research through shaving events and other fundraisers across the globe.

It all started with three guys in a bar on St. Patrick’s Day and a challenge to go bald to raise money for childhood cancer research. Their goal was $17,000. They ended up raising $104,000, and St. Baldrick’s was born.

Learn more about the history of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation >

Childhood cancer research is incredibly underfunded — only 4% of government funding is solely dedicated to childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick’s Foundation has worked since its founding to fill that gap.

St. Baldrick’s is the biggest funder of childhood cancer research grants behind the United States government. Since we became a foundation, we’ve funded more than $200 million in grants to intrepid researchers searching tirelessly for better treatments and cures.

You can donate to St Baldrick’s any time here. I will post about the 2019 event when it is up under our AVASWAY tab too.