People are Good

As many of you guys know I am trying to earn money for cancer research and I'm willing to shave my head over it.

I'm willing to go from this:

To this:

Yep, I'll look that good!
The things I will do for a good cause.

But I want to share with you some of the great response I have gotten from friends.
First is an email I got from a pair of high school friends who got married and had a couple of cute kids.

Hey Shelly,

We're glad to give to a foundation like this one. ALL took Mary's mom from us in 2004, so it has a special place of hatred in our hearts. For what its worth, I am glad to share that during her treatment the doctors were telling us how much more insanely curable ALL is when a child has it.

I wish we could give more. If we are able to, we will. We have been blessed with two babies, one who maybe 25-30 years ago wouldn't have survived without modern medical research. The other would have been condemned to a life of disfigured painful sideways club feet. We couldn't be happier to give what we can.

The other cool thing is that the corporation I work for, Ericsson, will match my contribution 1:1. You may not see it on your personal total, but after I fill out the papers this weekend, Ericsson will be sending St. Baldrick's another $200.

Plus, we really do want to see that shaved head! :-)

Sending our best wishes to Tyson.

-Bryan

Now I hope Bryan and Mary aren't too embarrassed if I share with you that they are not "in the 1%," if you will. I am grateful for their generosity. It warms my heart!

The second story that I want to share was just last night:

I was sitting in my room at 9pm when I heard a loud knock at the front door. It was too loud to be anything but some doorbell ditch (but clearly with the courtesy to knock instead of ring the doorbell because it was late and we have young children.) I was expecting cookies or some treat from a neighbor (our neighbors are fun that way.) But then I heard the car door slam and the car drive away FAST! Clearly a very motivated cookie-sneak

So I went downstairs to see what they were so clandestine about and my husband was holding an envelope with a large sum of cash in it. On the outside was written: For Tyson or children's cancer research; you choose.

I don't know if I have the words to explain how these experiences change my heart. I wasn't ever cynical to start with but to see my friends and family sacrifice like this enlarges my heart, gives place to more people, patience for more annoyances, desire to give more and take less, and makes me love you more...each and everyone of you.

And if you really know me you'll know that I already did love you. Each and everyone of you. I can't help it. I love people, all people. But now, I love you even more. And I didn't even know that was possible :)

So, thank you.

Everyone thank you.

I still have to the 9th to gather donations for children's cancer research. You probably wouldn't think about it until it happens to someone you love, but you'll have wished the research had happened before you got to that point. (You guys are writers, please rewrite that sentence to make more sense ;)

Did you know that you can even donate just a dollar? Every little bit helps (and it's all tax deductible)

So click and donate today :)

http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/participantid/473659

For Tyson!

Tyson's Brave Battalion