Last updated at Sat, 19 Aug 2017 03:43:59 GMT

I'm excited to be shaving my head at Shaves that Save at the RSA Conference US 2017—the second annual event where information security professionals go bald to raise money to fund a cure for childhood cancer and the St Baldrick's Foundation.  I hope you can join us a for a whole lot of fun—head shaving, a great DJ, a bar to benefit St Baldrick's, and an appearance by Stormtroopers and other Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion. And while we'll have a lot of fun, the bigger goal is to raise money for research that will help save kids' lives.

The event is on Wednesday, February 15th from 6-7:30 PM in the Viewing Room across from the South Expo hall.  You don't need to register for the event, but you do need an RSA pass. (An expo pass is fine.  Don't have one?  You can register for an Expo Pass.

We already have 12 shavees signed up from across the InfoSec industry!  I'm honored to join Josh Corman (Atlantic Council), Diana Kelley (IBM), Pete Lindstrom (IDC), Ed Moyle (ISACA), Rich Mogull (Securosis), Chris Nickerson (LARES), Michael Nickle (CA), Nick Selby (Secure Ideas Incident Response Team) and others in InfoSec to stand in solidarity with kids who typically lose their hair while undergoing treatment for cancer, and to help fund critical research.

I've been supporting St Baldrick's for a number of years, and this is the third time I'm shaving my head. I was introduced to the foundation through a corporate partnership with NetApp who is a large St Baldrick's supporter.  Since then, I've gotten to know a number of kids and families impact by cancer, and seen that they deserve better.  I've met kids who ultimately lost their battle.  I've seen kids who have taken chemo for over a 1000 days in treatment.  Thankfully I've seen a bunch where the treatment has worked, but many live in fear of a reoccurrence or long-term side effects from chemotherapy. These kids just want to be kids, and I've learned so much from their amazing attitudes as they persevere through treatment.

Unfortunately for these kids, only 4% of US Federal funding for cancer research is solely dedicated to childhood cancer, and St. Baldrick's Foundation helps fill the funding gap as the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants.  St. Baldrick's research has helped more of them survive, and provides hope for a cure for others.  No child should have to fight cancer or suffer the effects of treatment.

How can you help?

  • At the RSA Conference?  Come cheer on the shavees!  We have a number of people shaving their head for the first time, and your energy makes it even better!
  • Donate to the St Baldrick's Foundation (a U.S. non-profit 501 (c)3 organization) to support critical research.  You can donate from the event page.
  • Shave with us?  We have space left for a few more people if you want to join us.
  • Promote #ShavesThatSave on social media to help get the word out about the event.

I'd like the thank all the volunteers making this event a success:  Rapid7's Event Management Team for bringing the event to life, DJ Ka'nete for donating his services, MIS Training Institute, Entrust Datacard, the 501st Legion, Golden Gate Garrison, co-organizers Nick Selby and Davin Baker, and all the other volunteers and shavees.