Sunday, March 11, 2012

St. Baldrick's San Antonio 2012

After our visit to the St. Baldrick's event in Austin last year, Harold thought he might want to participate himself and sure enough he signed up when a St. Baldrick's event was organized in San Antonio this year. Because Alan's counts were a little low, he and Harold waited in the hospitality suite until it was Harold's turn to be trimmed. In the meant time, Judy and Kevin waited up front with some great friends who came to lend their support (thank you Vodrazka and Padilla families and Erika!).

During the shavings, we were moved to tears several times. Once was with the introduction of Dr. Aune, a pediatric oncologist and cancer researcher at the CTRC who is himself a pediatric cancer survivor. Another was Luis, who lost his son Jason to cancer when he was only 3 1/2 years old. Harold came up for his shave after a large group of firefighters and Alan was quite fascinated with the process and result.

The recurrence of Alan's tumor has really brought home to us how little research there is on his cancer so we really want to concentrate more of our advocacy and fund-raising efforts on pediatric cancer and sarcomas. Thank you to everyone who donated to Harold's campaign. You all helped us beat his goal of $1000 raised for pediatric cancer research!

Here is Harold's story that they read as he was being shaved.

Alan Sanders was diagnosed with a sarcoma three years ago and since then has been fighting through several surgeries, different chemotherapy regimens and two recurrences of his tumor. When the family found out about Alan's tumor and both his relapses, the doctors kept saying "There isn't much research on his cancer". That is why his Dad Harold is here today - to shave his head in solidarity with Alan who has lost his hair a third time and also to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Harold wants to help prevent other families from going through what they have had to go through. And besides, he likes having short hair...


Alan and Harold waiting for his turn at the shears

Before the haircut


Starting the shave...


Being interviewed by the MC while getting shaved.





Alan compares his head...



... with Daddy's new hair-do!


Alan with the Harris boys, who introduced us to St. Baldrick's

The whole family post-shave.

No comments:

Post a Comment