Shaving The Way to Conquer Kids Cancer @ Buckners

My name is Bailey McClellan and I am the volunteer event organizer for the St Baldricks event that we are hosting at Buckner Brewing Company on April 24, 2010 @ 2pm. This is an organization that raises money for children's cancer research. This foundation is near and dear to my heart and I decided that I wanted to bring the awareness of this amazing fundraiser to Cape Girardeau. My dad has participated in this event at Helen Fitzgerald's in St Louis for the past 5 years for a little boy who we all loved named Dawson.

Dawson was 6 years old when he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is cancer that starts in young nerve cells called neuroblasts. When Dawson was diagnosed his family had no idea that he was sick. They took him to the emergency because his groin was sore one day and then the next day he told his dad his chest hurt, they thought maybe he had bruised something while playing hockey, but while at the emergency room the doctor came in and said that they needed to go to Cardinal Glennon Hospital for more testing. When Dawson and his family got there a team of doctors were waiting for them.

From the moment that Dawson was diagnosed he was a fighter, he never wanted people to know that he was sick, and even when the chemo made him so sick that he would vomit he would continue to ask for his favorite sandwich, fried bologna.

When Dawson's family decided that they wanted to do St Baldricks, Dawson requested that my Dad shave his head. If you knew my Dad you would know how big of a deal this was, he loves his hair, but for him it was the least he could do for his little friend. My Dad had his head shaved for two years by Dawson at the St Baldricks event.

In late spring of 2007 Dawson went into remission, and then within about 3 months the cancer had returned and spread all over his body and he passed away on August 3, 2007.

Dawson has taught me to never give up; at such a young age he understood the value of life and the inevitability of death. He was my little buddy, my friend, and my family.

So I challenge anyone that would like to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer to please donate to this amazing cause or sign up to shave your locks!

You can register at www.stbaldricks.org/events/bucknerbrewingco

If you have any questions about this event please call me at 573.334.3677 or email me at bailey@bucknerbrewing.com

Help us cure cancer one bald head at a time!