Having both teens & breast cancer has been trying. Teens often want to help, but they feel that there's nothing they can do. That can change in October.
On October 22nd, Small Army for a Cause presents its second "Be Bold, Be Bald" fundraiser. It benefits several charities that are looking for a cure to cancer & is dedicated to honoring cancer patients. After much research, five foundations were chosen to be the recipient of the event's proceeds, including the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The other charities are listed at the end of this article.
Participants wear a bald cap on October 22nd, from morning until bedtime. The idea, of course, is to identify with cancer patients who've lost their hair during treatment (as a cancer patient, I love this idea). Then, sign up online & select the charity you wish the proceeds to be donated.
There's a $15.00 registration fee, BUT, you get your bald cap, a t-shirt, a button, & some other fun things (you can see the items on the web page). Next up, enlist sponsors who'll donate money. In some cases, people will pay just for the pleasure of seeing you walking around with a bald cap!
Its founder, Jeff Freedman along with his late business partner, Mike Connell, wanted to find a way that everyone could participate. Jeff explained, "Why do another marathon, road-race or bike ride? We needed to do something completely different (especially in an economic time not very friendly to fundraising)."
But what drove Jeff Freedman, the organizer of this event, to start this drive? The answer is simple; his business partner & dear friend, Mike Connell, lost his valiant fight with this all too deadly disease. They knew each other for 15 years, & founded an advertising agency, Small Army, in 2002. Jeff recalls fondly that Mike was extremely talented & generous. When he spoke, people listened; more importantly, he listened.
Mike had 2 bouts with cancer, both times being Hodgkins Disease, & came out the victor. He'd been cancer free for 15 years, so when he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, it was a shock. Doctors theorized that this cancer was probably caused by the high levels of radiation he'd endured during his original bouts with the cancer. If Mike had been treated with today's more sophisticated, targeted treatments, he may never have had the disease the third time. And that's why Jeff is so dedicated to finding a cure. In the meantime, make treatments more effective & less invasive.
Sadly, Mike Connell left behind a wife & three children when he passed on November 21, 2007. It was a week after the birth of Jeff's second child. His legacy isn't only the impetus of "Be Bold, Be Bald", but in the way he's remembered. He was a kind man with a large circle of friends, who was a mentor to everyone that met him. When it was clear that he wouldn't beat this disease, Jeff recalls that he was amazed as Mike consoled those around him, even though he was dying. He sounds like the type of person I would have loved to have known.
Parents, why not get your kids' school involved in the Be Bold, Be Bald project? Homeschool groups, youth groups, churches, even sports teams could band together & go bald for the day. Take a group picture & send it to Jeff or to me. I'll post it loud & proud here. What a great way for teens, tweens, or anyone to bond, while also helping raise money.
And somewhere, Mike Connell will be smiling.
Be Bold, Be Bald also contributes to the following charities:
The Jimmy Fund
The Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Myeloma Foundation
Susan Love Research Foundation (breast cancer)
If you'd like to follow along in my journey with breast cancer, read my blog, "The Brunette Lucy vs. Breast Cancer - & Cancer Can Suck It".
Comments