The Dreyfoos St. Baldrick’s event is inspiring many people to support the cause in fighting children’s cancer. One Dreyfoos teacher has a very personal connection with the St. Baldrick’s event and is using this opportunity to raise awareness among his students.  Math teacher Christopher Coombs is supporting the St. Baldrick’s foundation in memory of his mother, Dolly Coombs, who passed away from cancer.

“My mother was from the generation where people didn’t go to the doctor unless they were sick,” Mr. Coombs said. “By the time [the doctors] found out my mother had cancer, it had progressed all throughout her body.”

Once diagnosed, Mrs. Coombs tried a few rounds of radiation but it proved to be unsuccessful. Three months after she was diagnosed in July 1993, she lost her battle with cancer and passed away at 69-years-old.

“It was a relief that it all happened so quickly,” Mr. Coombs said. “[My family] didn’t have to watch [my mother] suffer.”

Mr. Coombs’ whole family was devastated by the death of his mother. His three brothers flew in from around the country so they could support each other at such a tough time.

“My brothers and I were all close but this brought us closer together,” Mr. Coombs said. “Our dad recently passed away, not from cancer, but it still made us realize that we are all each other have.”

When he found out that the St. Baldrick’s Foundation would be partnering with Dreyfoos, Mr. Coombs decided to participate by shaving his head in order to honor his mother’s memory.

“I haven’t really actively supported a lot of different organizations,” Mr. Coombs said. “[When] I saw all of the posters around campus, it looked interesting. I always keep my hair short so I thought it was the least I could do to support [St. Baldrick’s]. It’s such a worthy cause and it’s really neat to be able to do something instead of just raising money. ”

In addition to honoring his mother’s memory, Mr. Coombs wants to raise awareness among his students and get them to be passionate about such an important cause.

“It’s good for students to see teachers take initiative,” Mr. Coombs said. “I think it’s important for them to see that I’m a real person and not just a guy standing in front of the class.”

Mr. Coombs hopes that students at Dreyfoos will see this event as an opportunity to participate in they are passionate about while supporting a good cause. Even twenty years after her passing, he still hopes to make his mother proud of him to this day.

“If anybody had asked me when I was younger to choose one person who had the biggest effect on me, it would be my mother. Twenty years after her passing, I still would want her to be proud of who I am and the things I do,”Mr. Coombs said. “Cancer is a horrible thing, and kids getting cancer is just extremely saddening. Losing a parent was a horrible experience so I can’t imagine what is must be like as a parent to lose a child.”