Tonight on FOX, American Idol held its annual “Idol Gives Back” event, a 2.5 hour telethon to raise money for children and young people in extreme poverty in the U.S. and around the world. Millions of dollars are donated each year to this cause. We watched it mainly because of its entertainment value, and if my wallet is fatter than normal, we donate. This year we didn’t (note to AI producers: you should really wait until after April 15th when people usually have a lot of money to blow from taxes).
This year we’re donating to a cause that hits much, much, closer to home. My brother-in-law, Hank, was diagnosed last September with an incurable blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma. (Photo to right is my sister’s family) He’s already been through one round of chemo and after being back at work part-time for a few months, his last day of work was Tuesday. He’ll be out of commission again for 3-4 months while he undergoes a stem cell transplant. My sister and her family have been devastated throughout this entire process. When I last saw Hank up in Seattle, it was shortly after he was diagnosed and hospitalized. It was a horrible time for us all, and I got to witness first-hand the effects of this cancer on a man who is just two years younger than me. This past February Hank’s oncologist gave him 3 years to live. Another blow to the family. We hope he beats these odds and whips this cancer into remission for many, many years. I love my family dearly, and honestly, I love Hank as if he was my (blood) brother.
Look, I’ve never pushed a cause on anyone in my life. I have just never felt strongly about doing so. I’ve never begged anyone for money (Mom & Dad you don’t count!) I’ve donated plenty of money to our church and other causes, but now it’s time for a new cause. A cause to help fight for Hank’s life, and others who are fighting this aggressive cancer.
My sister just launched her “Shave to Save” campaign and is asking for donations:
My husband was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in September 2007. This is an aggressive, incurable cancer of the blood.
I’m hoping to raise money for research in finding a cure for this disease so that others do not have to go through the same hopelessness which results from being diagnosed with this type of cancer.
In order to meet my fundraising goal, I pledge to shave my head if I reach my fundraising target of $10,000 by May 10, 2008.
That’s right, my good people, if my sister raises 10 large within the next 30 days, she’s chopping off her hair (and hopefully it’s long enough to donate to Locks of Love!)
My sister doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to raise the ante, in hopes to motivate my own friends to donate to her cause. I also pledge to shave my head if my sister reaches her fundraising target of $10,000 by May 10, 2008. I’ve never shaved my head, so I’m looking forward to it. And like my sister, the details will be blogged. I’ve already chipped in a donation, with more on the way after taxes get settled. That’s right, I’ve already purchased (hopefully) a $100 haircut. With any luck, it will get a lot more expensive!
My friend, Mike (in New York), has blogged about my sister’s cause and has offered to shave his head too, to help convince his friends to donate. Thanks Mike!
April 10th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
A local Seattle newspaper just blogged about my sister’s cause:
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/toyourhealth/archives/136278.asp
April 11th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Hey Chris,
I am going to do you guys a solid. Because my Islesblogger site gets a decent amount of traffic, I am going to write up a little something explaining what your sister is up to.
I also plan on donating a little to her cause, and I offer up shaving my own head in support!
Best of luck guys!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Sorry, folks, I had comments accidentally turned off…
April 11th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Thanks for stepping up and helping out, Mike! You don’t have much hair to being with LOL — we’re up to 3 bald heads now for $10k!
April 11th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Cool! Thanks Mike.
April 11th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Not a problem Bird, post is up now:
http://www.islesblogger.com/2008/04/11/shave-to-save-hank
April 11th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
May as well click the link below too:
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/blog/
That blog gets A LOT of traffic!!
April 11th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
This comment never went through - it was first:
http://blogs.trb.com/sports/columnists/jimbaumbach/blog/
April 11th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
[...] friend Chris stepped up and said this on his blog yesterday: My sister doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to raise the ante, in hopes to motivate [...]
April 11th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Within the first 24 hours my sister raised $900. It’s now up to $1,396! Let’s go people… all three of us need massive haircuts!
April 12th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
This is totally an awesome thing that you are doing for Hank, and for the research. I’m hoping that our contribution will actually find a cure and prevent others from having to go through what you have.
I think you’re definately going to make the mark, so get ready to start sun screening your head! Oh wait, you never see the sun :)
April 21st, 2008 at 9:44 pm
You know, I have not been able to get on the donations site for over a week now.
What are the current totals?
April 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Just go to my sister’s site: http://crunchychicken.blogspot.com/2008/04/shave-to-save.html you’ll see she keeps the total on the right hand column. It’s currently at $2125. Not sure what happened to that fly-by-night donation site. But everyone can still donate by clicking the donate button on her site!