This Wednesday, March 10, 2010 I’m changing all of my Avatar’s to a “Hatvatar”. Why? To support kids with cancer and pay tribute to the 15th anniversary of “Hats On Day”. Founded in 1995, by a couple of ambitious fifth graders from St. Louis, Missouri wanting to support their friend and classmate, Kevin Beffa, who had been diagnosed with Non-Hodkins’s Lymphoma. Kevin had lost all of his hair from chemotherapy, had missed school because he was sick, and he was in need of a bone marrow transplant. His friends thought a fundraiser like “Hats on Day” was the best way to show their support and raise money for his transplant.

Sadly, Kevin lost his battle to cancer a few days before the event was to be held. The kids decided to carry on in his memory and held the event in the handful of schools that had planned on participating. Fifteen years later, there are over 2,000 schools in all 50 states including District of Columbia participating. Kids are helping raise money for other local kids in their community. It’s also created an opportunity for kids to create awareness among their peers about the sensitive issue’s children face while undergoing chemotherapy and dealing with issues like hair loss, and missing school.

It’s not limited to schools though, businesses and churches are also getting involved. If you are interested and want to find out more, these 2 foundations have paved the way.

Register here to help kids in the St. Louis Metro area  http://www.friendsofkids.com/hats-on-day.htm

Register here to help kids in your community http://www.childrenwithcancer.org/?page_id=95

Show your support, Hat tip with a Hatvatar.

Another way to show your support, is to Change your online Avatar/photo to your “Hatvatar”. Show your support in places like Twitter or Facebook. Add a picture of you sporting your favorite hat. Update your Status and tell everyone, “I’ve got my Hat on for Kids with Cancer, do you?”. If you’re too shy, you can always update a pic of a wild and crazy hat, or of your favorite team.  Or put the #HATSonDay hashtag on the back of all of your tweets. It’s about awareness for a great cause and to shed light on the need for childhood cancer research. However you feel comfortable, and are able to participate would be much appreciated.

March 10th also marks the 15th Anniversary of the day my best friend died. Kevin was my pesky kid brother. It was 3 days before my 15th birthday, and the last thing I wanted to do was celebrate. But I made a promise to my brother right before he died. I promised him I would do everything in my power to live my life to the fullest, for the both of us.  We did everything together and I didn’t realize it until that moment, until it was too late.  I promised him that I wouldn’t take my life for granted. I’d party, I’d travel, I’d give back, I’d live!

Kevin was the youngest of 7 kids, right below me.  He was pretty much like any other 12-year-old kid. He loved playing soccer, bothering his sister, and messing around with his friends. I’m grateful that this tradition has been carried out year after year. It keeps my brother’s legacy alive and it’s allowed his 13 nieces and nephews, that never met him, to get involved.  But more importantly it’s continued with its original mission. It’s uniting kids to help other kids, and helping an unbelievable plight, both financially and emotionally, that families of children with cancer deal with. It’s an experience that enriches the lives of everyone involved.

This year, 3 days after the anniversary, I turn the big 30. Many people fear it, I’m embracing it. I’ve tried to stay true to my promise and I don’t see any reason to stop now.  I’m celebrating the success of “Hats on Day” and I’d like to invite you to join the party.

I’m hosting a “Hats On Hatvatar” party. I’m putting on my “Hatvatar” this Wednesay March 10, 2010 and I’ll be celebrating through the weekend, maybe even the whole month.  Hope you’ll join. Invite your friends, the more the merrier!

Cheers,

Theresa Beffa

aka @Tbeffs