Friends of Karlee

The Lewis family is a Kids Cancer Care family that we hold very near and dear to our hearts. Ron Lewis and his son Ryley have been hard at work organizing a Shave Your Lid for a Kid event to take place on May 25^th at Sommerset School. The event is called “Friends of Karlee,” in honour of Ron’s Daughter Karlee’s cancer journey. The shave was organized as an appreciation to Kids Cancer Care as we supported the Lewis family during Karlee’s fight. This is a story of family, community, love and courage. This is their story…

“Getting a diagnosis of cancer is devastating anytime, but it is even more difficult when it is your 3 year old daughter.  That is what happened to our family on Friday August 6^th, 2010 when our daughter Karlee was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.  A lot of emotions, thoughts and fears run through you in a very short time and then reality sets in and you realize that you need to look at it as a journey with ups and downs and an end point.  We chose to look at this journey with faith & hope and to make the best of an awful situation.  The Kids Cancer Care Foundation makes it easier for patients, siblings and entire families to have a positive outlook and have support.

The KCCFA came into our lives on Tuesday August 10^th, 2010.  Karlee was in surgery to have her port inserted and Ryley was in the family room on Unit 1 when he was asked if he would like to go to camp next week.  We were absolutely shocked that an organization would offer to help Ryley.  He went to camp and had a fabulous time, got to meet some great friends, volunteers and staff and saw that this awful disease didn’t have to bring people down.  In the fall we got a chance to go to camp as a family.  Karlee’s blood counts were very, very low but the doctors agreed to let her go.  We went to camp with the attitude that we were going to have some fun as a family, but we underestimated the power of camp.  The relationships you make at camp teach you so much about healing, support and strength.  When we got back from camp Karlee’s counts had risen to their highest level since she was diagnosed.  At camp there are warriors, survivors and their families and well as the families of angles.  Each of these people can teach you so much about the human spirit and the ability to overcome.

Kids Cancer Care has allowed our family to take part in many events that we wouldn’t have been able to while dealing with cancer.  They have also connected us with other families who have provided another level of support in helping us get through everything and in showing us that there is life after cancer. We have tried to give back to this organization by volunteering for events when we are able, donating money from slipper sales and now organizing a Shave Your Lid for a Kid event.  Right before Survivor Day last year we decided we wanted to give something back.  As someone who has shaved my head for 15 years I realized I needed to do something a little different to raise money by shaving so I decided to grow my hair for a year!  Ryley also agreed to shave his head and has been growing his hair since October.  We started talking to up over the summer and started signing people up in January.  We already have 20 people who are shaving their heads.  Somerset School, which both kids attend, is partnering with us and going to help make this a great event.  So far we have raised over $16,000 and we still have 2 months to go.

Our journey has had its challenges with numerous hospital visits (some planned and some not so planned), lots of chemo and other medications and a few scary moments, including Karlee coding in the clinic and the code team having to revive her.  It has also had lots of special moments like camp, sporting events and family time.  Many of the special moments have been made possible by Kids Cancer Care and have been made extra special by their incredible staff and volunteers.  There is no way to say thank you enough times to the KCCFA for the incredible work they do for families that need the support they offer.”

-Ron Lewis

To donate to the Friends of Karlee shave: https://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shaveyourlidforakid/home/profile_group.php?group_id=496992321327074991

If you are interested in joining this shave and shaving your head to show support and raise funds for childhood cancer, please email Leah at Nelner@kidscancercare.ab.ca

Braving for a Friend

Meet Sawyer, a 10 year old girl shaving her head and donating her hair on her 11th Birthday! In grade 3 a classmate of hers, Nicole, bravely battled cancer for some time and lost her battle in the summer of 2010. Sawyer states she was so brave and always smiling. Sawyer is dedicating her shave to Nicole and all the kids like her who should not have to go through something like that at such a young age. This is her story…

Read her feature story in the Metro Newspaper:

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/article/1131152--a-shave-for-a-brave-friend 

To donate please visit Sawyer's page: 

https://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shaveyourlidforakid/home/profile.php?participant_id=281520061329150801 

Getting Cold Feet!

In this shave entry you will meet a girl who, like many who are about to shave their head, have many doubts and hesitations. It is no question that committing to lose your long blonde hair is tough; this why Kids Cancer Care feels so grateful for all the individuals who make the bold move to Shave their Lid for a Kid. This entry comes from the perspective of one of our very own shavees and honestly depicts the ups n' downs of shaving your head. This is her story....

The thought of cutting my hair for cancer first came to mind a year and a half ago when my friend’s grandmother was fighting cancer. In support of her (Sarah’s) grandma, she wanted to cut her hair. “I’ll do it with you,” were the first words that came out of my mouth when she told me what she was planning on doing. I honestly just wanted to be a supportive friend and thought it was the right thing to say, not evening imagining what it would be like to follow through with it. 

February came around, the time of the “Hair Massacure,” and Sarah and I had come up with way too many excuses not to do it at that particular time (AKA we chickened out). After letting the thought resonate, we decided to prepare our hair in order for us to cut and donate it the following February. Of course, February came around and we didn’t end up doing it. Although it was due to the fact that our hair wasn’t long enough, I’m sure we would have found other reasons why ‘later’ would be a better time. 

By April, I knew I really wanted to cut my hair and it was now not only to be the supportive friend I wanted to be. Along with the many people in my life who have battled cancer, KCC had a huge impact on my desire to do this. Finally, Sarah and I decided to cut our hair after the summer and raise money for specific foundations that we wanted to help. Being 20 years old and attached to my hair (that has never been shorter than my shoulders in the last 15 years), I underestimated how challenging this would be for me.

I didn’t do this for a simple haircut so I didn’t even think about what I was going to look like after. When it was finally cut, it took a couple hours for me to look in the mirror. Even though I originally hated what I looked like, I felt so great for actually doing it and making a small difference. It took me a while to get used to, but those around me made me feel good about myself.

I’m so glad I found a reason that made me want to do this because I don’t think I would have ever cut my hair or changed my hairstyle this drastically in my entire life. I now get to see what I look like with all hair lengths. I no longer have the issue of deciding what to do with my hair in the morning, because I come out of the shower and it’s done. Besides the fact that it feels a little chillier outside, it's so easy to maintain and I save at least half an hour in the morning.

Lastly, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is how refreshing it is to look so different than what I’m used to. It sounds weird but I feel brand new.

Meagan Diduck

Hair doesn’t matter as much as taking care of one another

Rae Lattery is part of the Kids Cancer Care Student Leadership Team and her entry to the shave blog provides a different perspective on what it means to Shave Your Lid for a Kid.  Not only does the fundraising from the shave program help fund essential Kids Cancer Care programming; but more importantly shows moral support for kids that don’t have the choice in losing their hair. This is Rae’s story…

My name is Rae Lattery and I am a cancer survivor. When I was 11 I was diagnosed with A.L.L Leukemia and my life was turned upside down. At first I was terrified, not knowing what will happen to me, hoping this was all a dream and that one day I’d wake up and everything would be normal. But it was real, it was very real. I spent the next couple months in the oncology clinic getting needles stuck into my hands, legs and arms, having different types of chemotherapy pumped into my body at a fast rate.

I began to lose weight, my energy, strength and all my hair. When I was allowed to come home for a couple days at a time I spent most of my day inside and resting. With my hair gone I didn’t even want to leave the house. Most of my confidence was gone as well. Granted I could rock a couple scarves, but I had no eyelashes or eyebrows and I was completely bald. When I would go out people would stare, kids would point and I felt like just disappearing so no one could see me. Some of the kids at school didn’t talk to me anymore and was afraid I’d be “contagious”, which didn’t help with my confidence. 

Before I was bald I had a lot of hair. I LOVED my hair. It not only helped with my confidence but I felt it distinguished me as a girl, and when I lost it… well you could only imagine. People would ask me if I was a boy or a girl, some people would call me “bud” or “he” or even “that guy” I never wanted to leave my house again. 

The Shave Your Lid For a Kid program is important to me because not only are people raising money and awareness for cancer but people are willing to give up their hair in the process. I think it definitely helps kids who have lost their hair to see other people willingly giving up theirs to raise money and to support.  I think it is important to get involved in school or any head shaving event because then you are supporting people with cancer and you are telling the world that hair doesn’t matter as much as taking care of one another.

-Rae

ASTRAL RADIO PARTNERS WITH KIDS CANCER CARE

Kids Cancer Care is proud to announce that Astral Radio’s 98.5 Virgin Radio will be the 2012-2013 media sponsors of the Shave Your Lid for a Kid program! Virgin Radio and their team bring an enthusiasm that makes us feel SO fortunate to be working with them. Stay tuned for social media shave announcements, on-air shave updates from the 98.5 Virgin Radio Street Team and to hear our new shave advertisements. 

“Its stories like Alex’s, featured in our new shave commercials, that make our team at Virgin Radio SO proud and excited to be part of Kids Cancer Care’s Shave a Lid for a Kid Campaign this year! We attended our first shave at Elboya School last April, and once the buzz from the clippers died down…42 kids and 7 teachers were rockin’ slick new do’s. Even more exciting…57 thousand dollars was raised to help send kids to camp, and to fund lifesaving Cancer research. The excitement in Elboya’s gym that day was contagious, with teachers and students decked out in crazy wigs in support of their friends taking the plunge and shaving their lids. We can’t wait to join the party! ”Cathy L’Henaff, Senior Writer and Fashion Blogger at 98.5 Virgin Radio

“CJAY 92, Classic Country AM 1060 and 98.5 Virgin Radio were so honoured to team with Kids Cancer Care over 2 years ago as friends, partners and fund raising champions.  Our next challenge is to make the Shave a Lid program bigger, better and more successful than ever before.  We look forward to meeting shave participants, celebrating survivors and helping victims of Childhood Cancer move forward with Hope.  ” Angie Beers, Creative and Production Director & Kids Cancer Care liaison.

Brand New Shave Video!

Yesterday we released our brand new Shave Your Lid for a Kid video in front of hundreds of students at Nellie McClung School. The video stars students from Nellie McClung School and O.S Geiger School, as they lose their locks for childhood cancer! The video was created to revitalize the shave program as well as spread the message that KIDS CAN make a difference and that KIDS CAN beat cancer!

WATCH the video here: http://shaveyourlidforakid.com/

Read about the event here:

http://www.calgarysun.com/videos/1400574581001

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Video+Shave+Your/6015461/story.html

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Locks+shorn+kids+music+video+premieres/6017965/story.html

HELP US spread the message! It only takes a second and it will cost you nothing. But it could change a child’s life forever.

-          Send it to 5 people and someone may be inspired to shave their head for children with cancer. The money raised could send a child with cancer to camp.

-          Send it to 100 people and 50 people may be inspired to help. The money they raise could save a child’s life.

YOU CAN make a difference. Please spread the word.

1. Forward this email to everyone you know;

2. Tweet this message on Twitter: If #kidscan, YOU can! Pls watch this video http://bit.ly/o4ITkN & RT. It could inspire others 2 help & change a child's life;

3. Post this message on Facebook: With your help, KIDS CAN beat cancer. Please share this video and spread the word that YOU CAN be the difference. YOU CAN help a child with cancer today: http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/shave_your_lid_for_a_kid.htm.

Thanks for your help,

Kids Cancer Care

THE MAIN EVENT

On Saturday, January 7th, Giang will be locking her locks in support of childhood cancer at a fun and unqie event called The Mane Event. The Mane Event will take place at Toque International Lounge and will feature art, dance and hair! The event is open to the public and access is attained through a $15 donation at the door, going directly towards Kids Cancer Care. This is her story…

“My name is Giang (pronounced Yan) and I am planning on shaving my head for cancer. Giving back to the community has always been an important aspect of my life; I love helping humanity! I enjoy keeping myself busy by being involved with projects. I have always wanted to give to organizations such as the Kids Cancer Care Foundation, however, being a student does not ensure me extra luxuries.  Many events these days involve running a marathon or biking, which I just have not been able to find the time to train hard for, but hopefully one day I will.

To be honest, the reason I decided to participant in the Shave Your Lid for a Kid Campaign was because someone commented on how nice my hair was and how much they wanted it. I had a “Victoria Beckham Bob” hairstyle at the time, so about a year ago I decided to grow out my hair and decided that I wanted to shave it to make it into a wig for someone who truly deserves it.

I work with youth and they are very special to me. They bring so much joy to our lives and they are our future. It is heart-breaking to know that such young children are fighting every day for their lives. This is the reason why I have chosen to support the Kids Cancer Care Foundation and Angel Hair for Kids.

About four months ago, I was really nervous about shaving my hair. I would go back and forth with the idea, “should I go completely bald or should I just donate the minimum of 10 inches?” I thought to myself, might as well go big or go home. I began to get very excited once I started planning for my head shaving event.  

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and proceeds for the Kids Cancer Care Foundation. My concept of the event was to have a Hair Show! I will be organizing an event that will be the first of its kind, where dance, art, music, and hair come together for one cause! It will be like a fashion show for hair! The underlining theme of the event is to embrace your life and that who you are makes you beautiful not your hair; that life is beautiful.

I am very excited to put on this event and I am so thankful to be part of this experience! ”

-Giang