St. Baldrick’s proves tough times can’t stop Las Vegans

Things are tough all over, and it would have been easy for anyone to justify taking a pass on this year’s St. Baldrick’s events.

But the participants, volunteers and donors appreciated the fact that every day is tough for children with cancer. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is nation’s largest private funding source for grant research for childhood cancer. And so each year, no matter the economy, they return in ever-greater numbers. Their generosity and spirit is an inspiring thing.

In Southern Nevada, the St. Baldrick’s phenomenon is in its fifth year. It started when Lynn and Brian McMullan of McMullan’s Irish Pub decided to set step up and honor the memory of their daughter Kyra, who died from a brain tumor at age 2½. This year, the McMullans have been joined by Nine Fine Irishmen in the New York New York, the Boulder Station, and Rachel’s Kitchen (on March 12 at the District.) Other shaving events are also popping up as the word gets out about St. Baldrick’s. Even the McMullans’ daughter Branagh is staging her own private event at Alexander Dawson School.

To date, and not including this year’s tally, Southern Nevadans have contributed more than $1 million to St. Baldrick’s.

For me, participating in St. Baldrick’s is a way of honoring the brave battle waged by my daughter Amelia, who was diagnosed in 2004 with a mixed-cell brain tumor. We nearly lost her. She endured surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and a relapse before slowly recovering. She suffers greatly from the after-effects of the cancer and her treatment, but does so with a spirit that makes me so proud to be her father. She celebrates her recovery and gives back to the cause of curing childhood cancer by shaving my head each year.

Each year Amelia’s Team grows in number and spirit. I like to think that the whole McMullans crowd are part of her team.

One thing is certain, Amelia’s Team grows faster than her old man’s hair. This year’s official shavees included Marcy Humm, Dominic Beake, Mary Alice Morgan, Chuck Johnson, Robin Wisti, and Mike Mayberry. Larry Brown and Pete Christiansen also shaved as part of our group.

Special thanks to all those who donated to Amelia’s Team. Listing everyone is nearly impossible, but here are a few of the many: Michael Gaughan, Rep. Shelley Berkley, Steve Mathis, the late Richard Taylor, Lynda Fleming, Tamara Fleming, Rose Meranto, Patty Romeo, our new friends at Viva Salon, Marquis Aurbach Coffing, Campbell & Williams, Gordon & Silver, Becky and Pete Christiansen, Larry Brown, Dominic Gentile, Jeff Silver, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hale, Tom Humm and Family, Mike Hengel and Family, Lou Tavano, James Scott, Jo and Tom Mitchell, Iola, Paul Doyle, Carmen and Gary Bates, Adrienne and Glenn Richardson, Tami Belt and Blue Cube Marketing, Mary Alice and Harry Morgan, Monterey & Jeff Brookman, Carol Caldwell, Norm Baker Motors, Leigh Ann Caldwell, Nancy Gregory, Pamela Gunness, Meggan Knott, KLUC’s Cat Thomas, Sean Lethbridge, Pier Leigh Marsh, Joshua Meyer, Teresa Murphy, the Otero family, Heather in Memory of Dr. Charles Rugggeroli, the smiling spirits of Jan and Prince Smith, Valorie, Howard, and Brianna Stutz, Lynn and Austin, the Tomashowski Family, Linda and Charlie Waters, Jim and Kelli Smith, Jenny and Matt Butler, Althea Little, Christeen and Herman Vergith, Amelia’s pals at the Review-Journal, and her many friends at state Unemployment office.

There are so many more. All I can say is thank you, everyone.

In the wake of the marvelous madness of this year’s shave-a-thon, Lynn McMullan caught her breath and said, “I’m in awe of the whole event, to be honest. It makes so many people smile. I’m just amazed at the joy that it brings. I’m just happy to be part of it.”

Me, too.