More Than 400 Airmen Take To The Razor In Support Of 5-Year-Old Brayden Mitchell

When 5-year-old Brayden Mitchell was taken to the hospital in January of this year for what was thought to be an appendicitis attack, it turned out to be a cancer diagnosis. Braden’s mother, Kristy, kept people posted of Brayden’s condition on a Facebook group called, “Brayden’s Backers.” However, Braden’s condition and the care and concern of his family and friends is only part of the story.

Television station KLTX19 located in Columbia, SC reported that Brayden’s father, 2nd Lt. David Mitchell, died in a pilot training mission just before the boy was born in 2008, and when his fellow airmen heard about the trials Brayden and his Kristy were going through, they made a decision to make a visible statement in Brayden’s behalf.

According to the report, when Brayden was discouraged over the loss of his hair, Kristi posted a message on the social media site asking if anyone would shave their heads in support of him. The answer to this request was a resounding, yes!

The baldness began in February with 90 airmen deployed to Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan. It has since spread to Air Force bases on two more continents, to Italy, North Dakota, Arizona, Florida and places in between. More than 400 airmen have shaved their heads in support of 5-year-old Brayden.

"I was more than willing to do that," said Capt. Corey Preston, who went to pilot training with Mitchell. Preston decided to make an event of it at Shindand, where he was stationed at the time, and take a bunch of photographs so Brayden could look at them.

Capt. Michael DeVita was inspired when he read what Preston and the others had done. Mitchell and DeVita flew T-6s and T-38s together during pilot training, where they became best of friends, DeVita told the Air Force Times, "I talked to Kristi and thought we could get something going here.” DeVita and 17 other B-52 pilots from the 23rd Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., followed suit, taking a picture of their shiny bald heads to send to Brayden.

At last count, at least 10 bases have hosted "Go Bald for Brayden" events, Preston said. A handful of women have also shaved their heads … one a Defense Department civilian employee and one a female airmen, even though it's against Air Force regulations”

Many of the airmen never even met Mitchell, "Everyone's been asking for his address and mailing [Brayden] photos," DeVita said.

FMI: www.facebook.com/groups/BraydensBackers/?ref=br_tf