All in the family!

Kids Cancer Care was approached by a very enthusiastic and passionate mother named Michelle, who wanted to involve her family in our Shave Your Lid for a Kid program. As a family they decided they wanted to make a difference in the lives of children with cancer here in Alberta, by shaving their heads and donating their hair! Here is their story and a fantastic video the boys made about their shave!

Did you know that cancer is among the leading causes of non-accidental death of children worldwide?

We didn't know... until recently when Cole (7) and Jake (5) took a great interest in Terry Fox this fall. Learning about Terry prompted them to begin asking questions about cancer, and specifically, if kids like them could get cancer. 

We had many heartfelt talks as a family about what cancer is and what little kids with cancer (and their families) might go through. Our boys asked us if there was some way that we could help. That's when we found Shave your Lid for a Kid. It is the largest fundraising initiative for children with cancer in Alberta, and we felt that the organization was a perfect partner for our family.

Our family was moved to make a difference for children with cancer and their families. We are all a little bit nervous to lose our hair, but we are committed to showing our kids that through simple actions of everyday people, great things can happen! Great things will happen when we give what we can to contribute to kids camps, cancer research, hospital programs, and scholarship programs through Shave your Lid for a Kid.

Our Goal: $10,000! Bravely shaving our heads when we reach:

Lee = $2000, Jake's = $4000, Cole's hair = $6000, Michelle's hair = $10,000

Not only will we fund the programs mentioned, but most importantly, we will show moral support to kids going through the battle of their lives.

- Michelle Irvine

The Irvine boys made a fantastic video about their shave! Watch it video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MYCM-8ehn8c

Donate to the Irvine Family Shave: https://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shaveyourlidforakid/home/profile.php?participant_id=139276281351309955

My hair will grow back!

In March 2012 Kids Cancer Care visited Western Energy Services Corporation for a Shave Your Lid for a Kid event that saw 6 brave co-workers band together to raise funds for Kids Cancer Care. Their motivation to shave it off came from a resilient young girl named Taylor. Leading the shave initiative, Tracey Burgess, recalls Taylor’s story and why Shave Your Lid for a Kid was so important for her to do.



I have a dear friend who at 37 thought she would never have children of her own. Then along came dear little Taylor, weighing in at 9.2 lbs. She looked perfect – all her fingers and toes. Every parents dream, right? Taylor was diagnosed with ‘neuroblastoma’. At first it was a lump the size of a kiwi on her spine; then after multiple hospital visits and testing, Taylor underwent surgery to remove the mass. The Prognosis looked good. Taylor now at five months has multiple masses that have sprouted on her spine and a lump that is on her liver and around her heart. This means more testing, hospital stays and chemotherapy. She has already been through 57 tests & surgeries!

Unfortunately there are many children out there with a story similar to Taylor's. Research requires funding! This comes from people like me and YOU! My hair will grow back….I want to see Taylor GROW UP!!

UPDATE:  Taylor is now 17 months old. Just last week she had a routine MRI and a series of other tests. All results came back negative. The doctors feel she is in full remission, but will continue to follow her until she is 18 years old.  Taylor is a happy little girl full of life and laughter.  She has a full head of hair now 14 teeth walks and talks (lots). All the love and support we have received has helped us through this trying journey. We thank each and every one of you.

My shave donations far exceeded my expectations!!!  I started with a target goal of $3,0000 and ended up with donations in excess of $17,000!!!  My hair has completely grown back,  “I have a new color and didn't even have to pay for it!”

Host a Shave Your Lid for a Kid event at your school!

Kids Cancer Care invites you and your school to take part in the Shave Your Lid for a Kid® program. This unique and exciting fundraising program has brought together thousands of teachers, administrators and students losing their locks to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer.

Why Participate?

Shave Your Lid for a Kid® has many benefits for students in the classroom and beyond:

1. Promotes leadership and encourages young people to get involved in the community;
2. Promotes school spirit and advocates anti-bullying;
3. The opportunity to educate kids about childhood cancer;
4. Kids helping kids! Shave donations go directly to helping kids and their families affected by childhood cancer in Alberta;
5. It’s fun!

The Shave Your Lid for a Kid® program features event and fundraising assistance from start to finish! Your school’s shave includes:

• Promotional posters and tips on fundraising;
• Assistance in setting up online profiles (optional);
• Shave day support including shaving materials and assistance in recruiting volunteer shavers*;
• Certificate of achievement and a baseball hat for shavees;
• Assistance with donation reconciliation;
• Coordination and sending of tax receipts to donors;
• Kids Cancer Care is happy to send a representative and a Kids Cancer Care Spokes Kid to your shave!*

Get Started!

1. Whether you’re a student, a teacher or a parent, talk to members of your school about hosting  Shave Your Lid for a Kid®;
2. Pick a date and set a fundraising goal;
3. Contact Kids Cancer Care. Please contact Shave Coordinator Leah Nelner at 403 984 1223 or email nelner@kidscancercare.ab.ca. By letting Kids Cancer Care know about your event, we can ensure we support your event to the best of our abilities.
4. Start signing people up to shave or cut and donate their hair;
5. Start fundraising!

Register your school here: https://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shaveyourlidforakid/register/register_group.php?indiv_or_group=indiv

Learn more about Shave Your Lid for a Kid®: http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/shave_your_lid_for_a_kid.htm

*subject to availability

Kellie Pickler Shaves her head in Solidarity

The country cutie has buzzed off her long blond locks in solidarity to her best friend, Summer Holt Miller, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and was about to start chemotherapy treatments. Pickler refers to Miller as her “sister” and decided to undergo the hair buzzing in Nashville alongside Miller.

Pickler took to Twitter afterwards and called the experience “one of the most incredible days of my life.” She has also coined herself to be Miller’s “cancer buddy” and stated that no one should “walk through the valley alone.”

Here is the video from the emotional shave day: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLA6bga0DCE

Here is a Clip from the Ellen Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uETvMUD9rN0

A message from Kids Cancer Care:
Shaving your head in  support of cancer is so much more than raising money. It’s about showing that you care and supporting those that don’t have a choice in losing their hair. It makes these people feel as though they are not alone…..some times this can be all they need to have the hope and strength to fight and beat cancer. For all of you who have shaved or cut and donated your hair, thank you!

Canadian Luge Athlete Gets Inspirational Haircut for Kids Cancer Care

Canadian luge athlete, Arianne Jones, received a motivational boost on the road to achieving her Olympic dream on Thursday. November 1st. With her sights focused on Sochi 2014, Jones spent the morning at the track trimming her locks while giving and receiving inspiration alongside the Kids Cancer Care community.

Encouraged by 12-year-old youth luge athlete Sam Judson, who trimmed her hair for charity last year, Calgary’s pint-sized 22-year-old Jones decided to lend a foot of her locks and raise money for Kids Cancer Care. Jones plans to donate the hair to Angel Hair for Kids who provides wigs at no cost to children who lose their hair to cancer or other diseases.

“As an athlete you become so focused on the day-to-day highs and lows along the journey to achieving your Olympic dreams that it is easy to lose perspective on the real challenges in life that others are facing,” said Jones – who added that she established an immediate connection with Judson, someone she handed used equipment down to, as they are both tiny in stature.

“To see my young teammate, and someone I was helping along, be so tuned in to the adversities of these incredible children who have battled cancer made me realize that to truly represent Canada, I have to do more than just compete. I believe the true spirit of being an Olympian realizes itself when you leverage your privileged position as a role model to positively impact others while bringing awareness to important causes like Kids Cancer Care.”

As is the case with far too many Canadians, the connection to cancer also exists deep into the luge community.

Calgary luger and cancer survivor, 12-year-old Chris Rowell emceed the event, introducing Jones to an enthusiastic audience of teens. Samantha Andres, whose battle scars with cancer include an amputated leg, shared her story of triumph and adversity before joining Rowell and Judson at the start line to make the first cut in Jones’ waist-length hair.

“It is events like today that encourage other young kids like myself to fight and believe they too will achieve their goals of getting healthy,” said Rowell. “Many of us understand how hard it must be to have cancer, but big-hearted people like Arianne, along with organizations like Kids Cancer Care, allow us to forget about our disease for a few hours and for that I am grateful. Lucky for me, I am fully recovered. Now I feel like I can give back, and have committed to raising money to help make battling cancer a little easier for other children.”

Following an inspirational presentation that culminated with getting the most memorable haircut of her life, Jones and a group of her Olympic teammates gave the kids a luge demonstration before giving them a chance to hop on a sled and take a trip down the icy chute themselves. 

“Part of my goal in doing this was to inspire these kids and give them a little hope, but I am blown away by their strength, positive attitude and outlook on life and sport,” said Jones. “As a result, I assure you the big learning in all of this is I am the one who is leaving here today most inspired. I’m more motivated now than ever to chase my dreams having witnessed first hand the extraordinary challenges these kids face. They will have a special seat on my sled with me as we slide closer to Sochi.”

Jones’ journey towards achieving her Olympic dream continues November 24-25 when the World Cup season kicks off in Igls, Austria. Canada will play host to the 2013 World Championships at the Whistler Sliding Centre, February 1-2, 2013.

In addition to donating her hair, Arianne also raised over $2,500 for Kids Cancer Care: https://secure.csfm.com/kidscancer/shaveyourlidforakid/home/profile.php?participant_id=770676591347646690

Watch the video from the event: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/video-canadian-luger-arianne-jones-loses-locks-for-charity/article4898398/

Kids Cancer Care’s Shave Your Lid for a Kid Program also encompasses hair donations by working alongside Angel Hair for Kids. Learn more: http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/hair_donation.htm

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

SEPTEMBER is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) and we are inviting you to help us make a difference in the lives of children affected by childhood cancer by shaving or cutting your hair through Kids Cancer Care’s Shave Your Lid for a Kid program.

Children affected by cancer have to go through many treatments, and more often than not, these treatments cause these brave kids to lose their hair. Help us support children affected by cancer and prove bald is beautiful by shaving or cutting your hair.

Taking part in the Shave Your Lid for A Kid program will raise funds to support Alberta families in four critical areas: Camp and Community Outreach, Childhood Cancer Research, Hospital Programs and Scholarships.

Kids Cancer Care’s goal is to host as many shaves as possible in this month to help create awareness, raise essential funds and show support to Alberta families battling childhood cancer. Join us this month as we stand in unison to prove that Kids Can beat this!

If you are interested in participating in a shave as an individual, school, community group or company, please click here to register your shave today!  

If September does not fit into your personal schedule but you would still like to participate, please consider supporting Kids Cancer Care another time! The Shave Your Lid for a Kid program runs year round and is structured to make it as fun and easy as possible for you to participate!  

If you need any additional information regarding the Shave Your Lid for a Kid program, please contact Leah at nelner@kidscancercare.ab.ca or 403.984.1223. Click here to watch our shave video!

Angel Hair for Kids

Kids Cancer Care’s Shave Your Lid for a Kid program supports the Angle Hair for Kids program. When our shavees and hair donors donate their hair we recommend donating to this amazing foundation. Read below to learn more about the foundation, hair donation and wigs for kids! Please note Kids Cancer Care does not accept hair donations. Please contact or send your hair donation to Angle Hair for Kids.

Every year Canadian children suffer hair loss due to a variety of causes including such things as cancer treatments or burns.  In order to help these children build their confidence, a program called Angel Hair for Kids was created. 

Angel Hair for Kids is a program that was created by A Child’s Voice Foundation, which was founded in 1995. A Child’s Voice Foundation is a Canadian charity that helps change the lives of financially disadvantaged children across Canada.  The two main programs that the charity provides are Kids Life Line, and Angel Hair for Kids. 

Angel Hair for Kids is a particularly unique program because it helps disadvantaged children in Canada that have lost their hair because of medical conditions or treatments, with both wigs and solutions to hair loss.  This particular program was created to help improve a child’s self-esteem and self-image while the child undergoes difficult and strenuous times.

In order for A Child’s Voice Foundation to manufacture one wig, it will take approximately 10-12 donated ponytails from people who have generously donated their hair. Kids Cancer Care encourages shavees to donate their hair if it is at least 12 inches in length, clean, dry, and free of chemical treatments to Angel Hair for Kids. 

KCC strongly believe in donating your hair to A Child’s Voice Foundation because the Angel Hair for Kids program directly benefits children living within Canada.  This means, that Kids Cancer Care and A Child’s Voice Foundation are keeping the funds raised, and the hair donated, within the country.  This allows children within our own nation to receive the help and support they deserve!

For more information on the Angel Hair for Kids program please visit: http://www.acvf.ca/index.php/our-programs/angel-hair-for-kids/

Learn more about Shave Your Lid for a Kid or sign up to donate your hair:

http://www.kidscancercare.ab.ca/shave_your_lid_for_a_kid.htm