I have officially kicked off my 46 Mommas fundraising campaign. Copy of my first email.

Hi there~

It's been ages since I have talked to many of you. My life was permanently derailed. As you are already aware, just over two years ago, our youngest OffSpring, Gregory, was diagnosed with Childhood Cancer. The trauma it has unleashed on our family is incomprehensible, unless you have personally experienced it.

In June of '09 Gregory underwent a Bone Marrow Transplant at the tender age of nearly four. While comparatively, he is doing quite well,  we still have a very long and uncertain road ahead. We are working through treatment related side effects and he is still taking twelve different medications, on a daily basis.

I have always been an advocate and worked to raise awareness for things that are close to my heart. Nothing could be closer to my heart than funding childhood cancer research.

To cut to the quick, when it comes to childhood cancer it's all about the numbers. With roughly 13,000 cases of childhood cancer diagnosed every year in the US (Childhood Cancer is actually 12 different cancers with unique mutations within each type of cancer), we cannot compete in the world of obtaining adequate research funds. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) there are 192,000 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed every year. That is ONE type of adult cancer. "The need of the many outweigh the need of the few." Playing the numbers game, it's no surprise that childhood cancer is deeply underfunded.

Yet....... "Curing childhood cancer is the equivalent of curing breast cancer in terms of productive life years saved." ~ Dr. Eugenie Kleinerman - Head, Division of Pediatrics, Children's Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center  Source: People Against Childhood Cancer (PAC2)

Which is where I come in. Myself and other Momcologists & Dadcologist. Grandparents, guardians, siblings, aunts, uncles cousins, friends. People who love our children who are diagnosed with cancer. Funding childhood cancer research is done through grassroots efforts of us. Those of us touched by it. Those of us that are passionate about it.

Have you heard about 46 Mommas Shave For The Brave? We are a group of 46 mothers, from all across the nation,  who have all heard the words, "Your child has cancer.". Why 46? On average, every weekday, 46 families hear those words. We 46 Mommas represent the complete randomness and diversity of childhood cancer. Childhood cancer is not caused by lifestyle or any predictable element. It is truly random. We have partnered with St Baldrick's Foundation, who funds childhood cancer research. In 2010, they funded $14 Million in childhood cancer research. This is done, primarily, through head shaving events.

So. I am shaving my head. With 45 compatriots. All in one place, at one time. Where? When? September 2011. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In Washington, DC at Union Station. We have an over all campaign goal of raising $1 Million for St Baldricks. Between last years campaign and our efforts so far this year, we are at nearly $384,000. We still have quite a ways to go. http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/46mommas

How YOU can help fund a cure:

• Donate on my noggin. No donation is too big or too small. Skip lunch out for a week. Order drip instead of espresso. Get the kiddos involved and sacrifice a meal out. Go to www.46mommas.com/mindifinch to make a donation.
• Spread the word. Forward my email, share my blog, share my fundraising page. One person tells two people, who then tell 8 people.........
• Join my team and fund raise! Hold a head shaving event, have a virtual event and shave your head, have a bake sale, garage sale, car wash and donate the proceeds. Ask you favorite latte drive-through to donate a days worth of tips. Here's my team page: http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/teamid/69623
• My daughter AnnMarie will be joining me in DC. She and I really need some bonding time and this is perfect. We need to get our hineys to DC. Can you donate airline miles for our travel?

I am not doing this for Gregory. None of us are doing this for our kids. In fact, many of our Mommas have already buried their children. Many childhood cancers are incurable. Yep. A death sentence. We are raising awareness, raising funds for research for cures and better treatments for YOUR kids. For OUR grandkids.The kiddos of the 46 Mommas have already been given the best is that is available and it's just not enough.

PLEASE................... help me fund a cure.

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
--
Mindi Finch
Momcologist & Team Leader, 46 Mommas 2011 Campaign
Spokane, WA
Mommy to Curtis, AnnMarie & Gregory
mindithemagnificent@gmail.com

Our family's Odyssey with Gregory's diagnosis of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML): www.mindithemagnificent.com

"You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."  ~ The Prophet.  Kahlil Gibran

*Won't you help me fund a cure? Do it now. Make a donation to fund Childhood Cancer Research.

Childhood Cancers are the #1 disease killer of children under the age of 15 — more than asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined.

www.46mommas.com/mindifinch

Awareness=>Funding=>Research=>Cures

"Curing childhood cancer is the equivalent of curing breast cancer in terms of productive life years saved." ~ Dr. Eugenie Kleinerman - Head, Division of Pediatrics, Children's Cancer Hospital at MD Anderson Cancer Center