KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE (BNO NEWS) -- Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush shaved his head this week to show solidarity for a Secret Service agent's sick child who is suffering from cancer, joining other members of his security detail, a spokesman said on late Wednesday.

Jim McGrath, a spokesman for the 89-year-old former president, said Bush took the unusual decision earlier this week after learning, and seeing, that many members of his security detail had already shaved their heads to show support for 2-year-old cancer patient Patrick, whose father Jon is a member of the Bush Protective Division (BPD).

The Secret Service agents have also launched a website -- www.patrickspals.org -- to assist with Patrick's medical bills and have organized the Inaugural Patrick's Pals Motorcycle Benefit Run on August 10 in the town of Kennebunkport in Maine. The benefit run will be a 50-mile (80-kilometer) motorcycle ride through the Maine countryside, followed by a lunch and silent auction to raise funds.

"Once President and Mrs. Bush learned of this 'Patrick's Pals' effort, they made a donation and President Bush volunteered to shave his head as well," McGrath said in an e-mail. George and Barbara Bush lost their second child, 4-year-old Robin, to leukemia nearly 60 years ago.

Bush, the 41st President of the United States, was in office from January 1989 until January 1993. He also served two terms as President Ronald Reagan's vice president from 1981 until 1989, and he is further the father of former President George W. Bush, who was in office from 2001 until 2009.

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Wait until Snowden finds out...

Wait until Snowden finds out...

He knew the moment George made the appointment with his barber.

What a sad indictment of a country that forces people to go to these lengths to save a life . . . still, good on Pappy Bush

He's the best Bush president. May there never be another one!

He's the best Bush president. May there never be another one!

Well said, mate - well said . . . luckily Jeb is too middle of the road for the new Republican Party

Former U.S. President H.W. Bush has obviously watched "Monday Mornings".

What a sad indictment of a country that forces people to go to these lengths to save a life . . . still, good on Pappy Bush

Spare us the melodramatic drivel. Where does it say the little boy has been denied treatment? His father is a government employee (with medical insurance options), who can afford a seasonal home in Kennebunkport.

It's not a 'sad indictment' of anybody. By all accounts, people are inspired by the moral and financial support provided by Bush and friends.

Many people have spent countless time and resources to find a cure for this terrible disease. Yet, you try to make it seem like the glass is half empty.

I never liked the Bush family, but from a human perspective George HW just got awarded a gazillion street cred points from me. The gesture is totally compassionate and I am sure I can say without fear of error that his security detail will be overwhelmed by the gesture. Those guys will willingly take the bullet for him now. Such a simple thing to do which means so much. Excellent. Good luck to the little one.

He's the best Bush president. May there never be another one!

Can we change maybe to hopefully, please ?

An off-topic post has been deleted.

What a sad indictment of a country that forces people to go to these lengths to save a life . . . still, good on Pappy Bush

Spare us the melodramatic drivel. Where does it say the little boy has been denied treatment? His father is a government employee (with medical insurance options), who can afford a seasonal home in Kennebunkport.

It's not a 'sad indictment' of anybody. By all accounts, people are inspired by the moral and financial support provided by Bush and friends.

Many people have spent countless time and resources to find a cure for this terrible disease. Yet, you try to make it seem like the glass is half empty.

So the OP is incorrect? nothing about being denied treatment, but...."The Secret Service agents have also launched a website -- www.patrickspals.org -- to assist with Patrick's medical bills" now that is sad that a members of a government agency that at anytime may have to put their life on the line, need to set up a donation fund to assist one of the teams childs' medical bills

Edited July 29, 201312 yr by simple1

There are bills associated with medical costs which may not be covered. These may include drugs and therapies that are not yet approved or may be experimental in nature. There are also other costs associated with caring with a sick child. The parents may need to stay near the hospital, there may be child care costs for other children in the family etc.

One parent may have to quit work to assist in the care of a sick child.

Let's stick to the topic of the thread.

What a sad indictment of a country that forces people to go to these lengths to save a life . . . still, good on Pappy Bush

Spare us the melodramatic drivel. Where does it say the little boy has been denied treatment? His father is a government employee (with medical insurance options), who can afford a seasonal home in Kennebunkport.

It's not a 'sad indictment' of anybody. By all accounts, people are inspired by the moral and financial support provided by Bush and friends.

Many people have spent countless time and resources to find a cure for this terrible disease. Yet, you try to make it seem like the glass is half empty.

So the OP is incorrect? nothing about being denied treatment, but...."The Secret Service agents have also launched a website -- www.patrickspals.org -- to assist with Patrick's medical bills" now that is sad that a members of a government agency that at anytime may have to put their life on the line, need to set up a donation fund to assist one of the teams childs' medical bills

Precisley

There are bills associated with medical costs which may not be covered. These may include drugs and therapies that are not yet approved or may be experimental in nature. There are also other costs associated with caring with a sick child. The parents may need to stay near the hospital, there may be child care costs for other children in the family etc.

One parent may have to quit work to assist in the care of a sick child.

Let's stick to the topic of the thread.

I believe it is part of the thread - a sad part of it, but I'm glad that the old Bush 'did his bit'

This would have been a no brainer for the former president. His first daughter died from leukaemia aged 7 or so. He knows exactly what this father is going through.

That's sad.