by Braluk
SDN Moderator

For St. Patrick’s Day 2009, I’m shaving my head.  And so are many of my friends and classmates.

And no, vast quantities of Guinness have nothing to do with it.

We are participating in a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event to raise funds for childhood cancer research.  Participants will either shave their heads or donate their hair to make wigs for a child in need.

Since its inception in 2000, St. Baldrick’s has raised more than $50 million and grown into the world’s largest fundraising event for childhood cancer. Worldwide 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year and despite tremendous progress, cancer remains the top disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada.

My medical school class at Tulane University School of Medicine has the goal of beating last year’s event, which raised over $63,000. We’re well on our way, but we need your support.

The Student Doctor Network is currently sponsoring SDN membership for those who donate to the St. Baldrick’s foundation.  To get an SDN subscription, you will need to donate that subscription amount or higher to St. Baldrick’s.  For example, Gold status is $45 for one year or $75 for two years, so if you make a $75 donation to St. Baldrick’s, you will get a two year Gold status membership to SDN.

The link to donate is here (click on photo on the page): http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.php?ParticipantKey=2009-64188

In order to obtain your SDN membership, please email the receipt you receive from St. Baldrick’s to Anna@studentdoctor.net.  You must request an email receipt at the time of donation.

While battling cancer, children may lose not only their hair, but years of their childhood, and sometimes their lives. In comparison to their struggle, cutting my hair is a small sacrifice, and the money raised will make a difference for children with cancer now and in the future.

Beyond the money raised, my medical school class is banding together for this cause to show solidarity and support for the children and families affected by childhood cancer here in New Orleans and across the country.

So, I am asking you to help me raise as much money and awareness as I can for the foundation to fund as much research as possible!   Please donate now.

On July 25th, Riley Jane Lawrence, the 4-year old daughter of SDN Administrator Sarah (All4MyDaughter), and her 5-year old cousin Claudia Faye Wadlington passed away after being struck by a car.  The girls were on their way to swimming lessons.

The loss of Riley and Claudia has devastated their families, friends, and those lucky enough to have known them.

SDN has established The Riley & Claudia Memorial Fund in an effort to ease the financial burden on the girls’ families and to establish a lasting memorial in their honor.

The August Auction (now completed) was one opportunity to support the Riley & Claudia Memorial Fund. The items up for bid were generously donated by a variety of companies and individuals, allowing all proceeds to go to the memorial fund.  Thank you for supporting Sarah and her family. Read the full story

Last year the SDN volunteer members designated that each Winter they will make a donation to a healthcare related charity. For the 2006-2007 Winter season, the volunteer members donated $5000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The members chose Make-A-Wish because of its longstanding tradition of providing service to ill children throughout the world. Each year the Make-A-Wish Foundation provides hope, strength and joy to nearly 13,000 children and their families.