Nineteen years ago, Adam Henderson lost his hair to chemotherapy while battling acute lymphocytic leukemia at Texas Children’s. On April 9, this long-term cancer survivor is bald once again but this time it’s for a good cause. He and others participated in St. Baldrick’s annual fundraising event in Sugar Land.
Henderson and his former pediatric oncologist Dr. Timothy Porea, clinical director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, and Dr. Fatih Okcu shaved their heads to raise funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research. Chris Stout, the father of Texas Children’s cancer patient Justin Stout, and students from Baylor College of Medicine, UT Med and Rice University participated in the event including long-term cancer survivor Michael Graves who emceed the event.
“There were a lot of emotions about being bald again,” Henderson said. “This time, I did it by choice and it was a joyous occasion because I was able to promote and support a worthy cause.”
St. Baldrick’s annual “Brave the Shave” challenge brings together survivors, patient families, physicians and supporters from across the community to raise funds for childhood cancer research. This year, these nationwide shaving events – 1,158 to be exact – have raised more than $28 million. Since the first event began in 2000, St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised more than $178 million in funding for childhood cancer research – more than any organization other than the U.S government.
The foundation started in response to the lack of funding for childhood cancer research. According to the organization’s website, while 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, all types of childhood cancers combined receive only 4 percent of the U.S. federal funding for research. The funds raised through St. Baldrick’s have helped fund 820 grants at 329 institutions in 22 countries. Several of these funds support researchers at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers.
“Seeing Adam and other cancer survivors standing next to me means we have succeeded,” Porea said. “Their inspirational stories of survival are a testament of why we do what we do every day here at Texas Children’s. Through advanced research, we can help save more lives and ultimately find a cure for childhood cancers.”
Porea has participated in St. Baldrick’s fundraising and head shaving event for the last 11 years. This is the second time he and his former patient participated in the event together. After all these years, Porea and Henderson still keep in touch and are counselors at Camp Periwinkle.
Prior to the head shaving challenge, two of St. Baldrick’s scholars – Drs. Karen Rabin and Wendy Allen-Rhoades – delivered opening remarks and highlighted the benefits of funding pediatric cancer research.
Click here to watch a spotlight video of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers.