A close shave for cancer
By Patte Smith
Now you can keep your hair out of your eyes and out of the bathroom sink. And, no more washing, cutting, curling, straightening or dying that scraggly mane. Bald is beautiful, so go for it at the sixth annual St. Baldrick’s event, sponsored by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Help children fighting cancer and sign up to shear those locks to benefit pediatric cancer research or volunteer to help at the St. Baldrick’s event. On March 30, personnel from the sheriff’s office, friends, family, and the community will join together at this event that has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help research new cures for childhood cancer.
Held at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Events Center, registration and early shaving of commissioned officers starts at 2 p.m. There will be a silent auction, music by Dogs of War, Paul Monteville and Gerritt Kaufman, and Jake Shroeder of Opie Gone Bad will sing the National Anthem at 3 p.m.
Check out the web site at www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/175/2012 and sign up to get those tresses shaved, join a team, make a donation or volunteer to help. The goal this year is to reach $50,000! The web site also features stories about the children who are being honored this year; among them is the story of Isabella Ackerman.
In April of 2006, Janine and Niles Ackerson’s first child, Isabella (Izzy) was born — a beautiful and healthy baby girl. In November of 2006, the Ackersons noticed that Izzy wasn’t acting normal and becoming lethargic. She could not kick what doctors thought was a common virus, so Isabella had a blood test and it was discovered that she has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).
The Ackersons spent 47 days living at Children’s Hospital meeting with oncologists and caring for Izzy while she battled through her chemotherapy treatments, spinal taps, and infections. On December 27, 2006, Izzy passed away in the early morning at eight months old. She took her last three breaths in the Ackerson’s arms.
Since then, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Ackersons and many individuals, businesses, organizations and police departments to raise money for childhood cancer research. Join in and support a very good cause, and to remember Isabella Ackerson and the many children suffering from cancer.
Go online to www.stbaldricks.org for more information about the St. Baldricks Foundation and to register for the event.
