The Cheerleader For Life

I meet Harper Drolet for the first time this past year at a Blessed Sacrament Basketball game. As one of the coaches for her sisters cheerleading squad, I saw her at numerous basketball games. What a beautiful young woman with her suede boots and blue hat. To see her chasing her youngest sister around the gym showed not only her true happiness in life but also her incredible strength.

Harper is fighting the battle of battles. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissues. When I last saw her this past March, she had already endured massive chemo and radiation and was showing signs of recovery. Unfortunately, the recovery was short lived. Harper is now fighting for her life again as the cancer has returned.

Harpers struggle has brought about massive prayer in my home for her family, and it has also brought about a very important question – what can we do to help? Yes, prayer, happy thoughts, good karma and all that are wonderful things but what about tangible things? A meal for the family, a donation to the cancer society, a donation to locks for love.

Last night, my daughter told me that she wanted to donate her hair to Locks for Love. Her hair was not quite long enough for a donation but we are sending the hair to them anyway. According to the website, donated hair less than 10 inches long is sold and the money is used to finance their organization. You can learn more here.

Anything you can do to help Harper, no matter what it may be, know that the family truly appreciates it. To keep up with Harper's battle, please go here! You can also go here and here for stories about a brave young woman.