Medfield Business Owner on a 'Mission' to Help Kids with Cancer

In one month, Medfield business owner Maria Piedra will be bald ... because she is buzzing her hair to help kids with cancer.

Piedra, a breast cancer survivor, just recently dyed her light brown hair blonde and is planning on changing her hair color at least one more time before the June 3 event at Gillette Stadium. She might dye it pink, blue, green or purple. 

Actually, she will not be the one selecting her next color. The patrons of her store, at 505 Main St., will be. But it will not stay that color for long, because Piedra is having her head shaved at Gillette Stadium as part of the "One Mission Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off" event on Sunday, June 3.

Piedra is the proprietor of The Butterfly Tree Store in Medfield and she is undertaking something few women would consider doing. But Piedra has been bald once before.

“I feel good now,” said Piedra, who is a breast cancer survivor.

She said it has taken about three years and she has had some setbacks, but after undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, she is now feeling good. 

“Oh my God, yes, I was scared,” when asked what her initial reaction was to finding out she had cancer. 

But about six weeks ago, Piedra was listening to her car radio when she heard a commercial for the Kid’s Cancer Buzz Off Event at Gillette Stadium. She didn’t get all the details only having heard the commercial once, but what stuck in her head was that this event would benefit pediatric cancer. 

When asked if she knew any children currently battling cancer, or had personally known any children with pediatric cancer, she replied, “No, but I know how scared I was, and thinking of them [the children] to have to go through it, that’s what drew my attention to doing this.”

She went on to say that a few days after hearing that commercial she went on the computer to get more details and she had a hard time finding out more, but remembering it was called a “Buzz Off” and it was being held at Gillette Stadium, she found it. 

Her intention when she found the site was to send a donation, but after reading, “In the United States, cancer is the number one disease-related cause of death of children infant to 19; more than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and pediatric AIDS combined...”  on the organization's website, http://www.onemission.org/wwaMatters.html, she knew she had to do more. 

“That touched me,” said Piedra. “The seed was planted.”

Over the next few weeks, that little voice in the back of her head kept telling her that she should do it; she should get her hair buzzed for charity. So she got on her computer with her credit card in hand, and signed up.

“My family is very supportive”, she said.  “My goal is to raise $2,000.”

Piedra is fundraising both at her store and online. She has set up a “Mystery Drawing” at the store. There will be at least five prizes (all valued at $20 and up) and for a suggested $5 donation, you can put your name in to win. She is also letting people vote for the color her hair will be when she gets it buzzed on June 3. If you would like to vote, stop by the store at 505 Main St. in Medfield and for a suggested $5 donation, you can vote for the color of your choice.

The Mystery Drawing prizes will be drawn on June 30th, and donations will be accepted up to that date.

For more information about the "One Mission Kid's Cancer Buzz-Off" and to find out how you can donate, visit her website, http://www.thebutterflytreestore.com/index.html.

NOTE: View Piedra's YouTube video above to hear her story in her own words.