Every Friday in September community leaders will shave their heads and go bald to help raise money for kids fighting cancer. Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce President John Lai will have his head shaven today for Cali who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was three years old.
You can watch John go bald on the Golisano Children’s Hospital Facebook page at 8AM HERE. You can also help John toward his goal to raise $2,500 HERE. All proceeds benefit Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital’s Cancer.
For the past 26 years, Barbara’s Friends has helped over 10,000 local kids with cancer and blood disorders from infancy to age 30. This year alone more than 30 local children have been told they have cancer.
Cali is now a healthy 14-year-old and an 11-year cancer survivor She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just three years old. Treatment started immediately and she stayed in the hospital for weeks at a time.
“The staff is incredible. Everything they do is geared to kids and helping children as young as Cali understand what’s happening and explaining why they’re doing things. They have a way of making kids feel comfortable with what’s going on. It truly helped that we didn’t have to drive all over Florida to get her the best care. People just don’t understand how lucky we are to have specialized pediatric oncology right here in Southwest Florida,” said Mindy, Cali’s mom.