Bald is beautiful, or at least a beautiful honor

We think a lot more about our hair than about cancer. Until we get cancer. Or until someone we love gets cancer.

Then we don't think about hair at all. Until someone we love loses their hair from chemotherapy.

This week, a hundred or so Las Crucens — myself included — are thinking about hair and cancer a lot. We're thinking about our hair, because in three days, it's getting all shaved off. And we're thinking about cancer because we're shaving our heads to draw attention to the need for children's cancer research. And the need for funds for the research. And the bald heads will pay homage to all the kids who have to go through chemo each year. Many of them don't make it.

You can help by making a donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

The link for the Las Cruces event is http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/eventid/800/eventyear/2010

Click on View all participants or View all teams to find someone you know, and make a donation under their name.

Donations made in New Mexico will go to cancer research at the UNM Children's Hospital in New Mexico.

The Las Cruces event is Saturday at 3 p.m. at Dickerson's Event Center, 3920 W. Picacho Ave. In addition to the head shaving, there will be lots of music, food, and some powerful words from some people who have dealt first-hand with the draining power of cancer.

There will also be a hugely important bone marrow drive. A simple swab of the cheek could help save a life.

My hair right now is longer than it's been since 1989. The last time I had a burr haircut, I was eight. By the end of the day Saturday, my head will be shiny bright and crazy clean. Some dudes look good bald. I guarantee I will NOT be one of them. But if I continue to raise money for the research, I don't care how I look.