ST. BALDRICK'S STORY

I have been blessed with “good hair”.  It is naturally dark and VERY thick!  In late 2008, Ann and I learned of a charitable organization named “St. Baldrick’s”.  This organization raises money for children’s cancer awareness and research so that we might be able to develop a cure and help those stricken with this horrific disease early on.  The fundraising that occurs all year long, comes to a head (pun intended!) the weekend of St. Patrick’s Day.  On this day, men, women, boys and girls all come together to shave their heads for charity. 

Ann and I both loved the charity and what they were doing, and we thought this was a great opportunity to support by doing something as easy as shaving the hair on my head off.  We also saw this as an opportunity to teach our 3 boys about charity, giving and who and what this disease has an effect on.  So in March of 2009, together with dear old dad, Matthew, Luke and John stepped up to the chairs, sat down and shaved their heads as far as the clippers would allow.  At the time, I had a friend by the name of Jake Williams who was battling a form of cancer and together we dedicated our head shaving to him, his battle and his recovery.  Little did we know that this first head shaving experience would take on more in the years to come.

In November of 2009, my wife Ann had just finished her first Ironman in Cozumel, Mexico.  The week we returned, she was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer.  In January, Ann had her thyroid removed along with 24 suspicious lymph nodes.  In March of 2010, the “Bald Bynum’s” took their places in the barber chairs once again and shaved their heads; not only for cancer awareness and research, but for mom.  That year we raised more than any local team and when it was over we had tallied almost $10,500.  Mom was very proud and we made our impact and our contribution.

In mid 2010, Ann’s mom Patti was diagnosed with breast cancer.  After double mastectomy surgery in September, the “Bald Bynum’s” once again lined the barber chairs in March of 2011 to show their support for the cause and their love for their grandma, and they shaved their heads bald.

So this St. Baldrick’s thing has become somewhat of a tradition around the Bynum household.  Each year we discuss why we do it with the boys, and each year their understanding and selfless giving grows.  We are helping fight cancer and we are raising great men in our boys.  And to think that we might make a difference by going through the inconvenience of shaving our heads and walking around looking “funny” for a month or so.  Yes, I have been blessed with “good hair”, but I have been blessed by so much more by being allowed to participate in this awesome charity!  Maybe you will join me next year?  And maybe you will also use the Bynum catch phrase:  “It’s only hair!”