Natomas Dad To Go Bald For A Cure

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

Stan Ichiho will shave his head Sunday, March 18 as part of a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser to honor his daughter diagnosed last month with leukemia.

Kathryn “Katie” Ichiho, 15, is a freshman at Inderkum High School who likes to play soccer, run track and cross and country. In October 2011, Katie placed at the Tri-County County Conference League Championship cross country meet.

Katie was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on Feb. 17. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy threatment through Kaiser Roseville.

“Up until the week she was diagnosed, she was a healthy, happy teenager who was very active,” said Stan. “In an instant her life and ours are forever changed.”

Katie’s is a long and arduous process that is expected to take close to three years to complete. 

“I was really scared at first when I found out I had cancer, but with all the love and support from my family and friends I know I can get through this,” Katie writes on the St. Baldrick’s Foundation website. “Like my dad said, this is not going to be an easy journey. It’s going to be a bumpy road with a lot of good days, but also some really bad ones too.”

Katie’s dad, Stan, and the eight other members of the BaldWINS! team are raising money to find a cure.

“I, along with some of my friends and family, will be having our heads shaved on Sunday, March 18 to support the Foundation and help raise funds for children’s cancer research,” Ichiho said.

Six teams – 76 “shavees” in all – are expected to participate in the 2nd annual St. Baldrick’s event at Giovanni’s Pizzeria in Land Park.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation funds research to help find a cure for childhood cancer. The statistics are staggering – every year 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer.

Writes Katie, “I just have to keep my head high, and remember this is the only way to get better. I know I am strong enough, and I can defeat this disease. I just have to believe I can.”

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