For some people, March is a time to celebrate heritage and tradition. For others, it may be more about parties and parades. But for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, it symbolizes a time to volunteer for a good cause…by shaving your head bald.
St. Baldrick’s, a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, has become known for its signature head-shaving events all across the country. Volunteers collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers.
Although the nonprofit organization holds head-shaving events throughout the year, March is the busiest fundraising season. This Saturday, Trinity Hall Irish Pub and Restaurant in Dallas will be hosting a St. Baldrick's fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
At the pub from 11 a.m. to noon, Children’s Medical Center staff members Julie Germann and Pat Satterwhite will have child patients shave their heads to raise money for childhood cancer research. Their team, “Shave to Save,” has raised more than $11,000.
“Today is full of celebration and shaved heads,” Kathleen Ruddy, St. Baldrick's Executive Director, said in a press release. “We owe a great deal of thanks to our many volunteers, shavees, donors and supporters, without whom our organization would not have been able to contribute so much to the fight against childhood cancer.”
On Saturday, local supporters attended the St. Baldrick’s event held at J. Gilligan’s Bar and Grill in Arlington. The event was held under a tent in the parking lot with food and drinks supplied by J. Gilligan's and live music including a performance by CMA Nashville recording artist, Sonny Burgess. Guests enjoyed their lunches in the nice weather and contributed to the St. Baldrick’s cause by volunteering, donating or shaving their heads at one of the two hair-shaving stations.
Included in the large crowd at the event that day were 16 volunteers and 18 shavees. Shavees were male and female of all ages including four year-old Cameron Landberg who is a leukemia survivor. Cameron was in remission and had a full head of hair that day but, according to his mother, wanted to show his support by shaving his head too.
Lisa Logan, RN and CPNP at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth was the top participant at the event raising $2,750. She also shaved off her full head of red hair.
”Shaving my head was not a big deal,” said Logan. “The kids are the real heroes. I’ve been a nurse for over 20 years and have watched many children who have cancer lose their hair. A lot of them don’t make it but a lot of them do and their hair grows back. “
Logan added that more children and adolescents die of childhood cancer than any other disease. Her teammate, Donald Beam, M.D., also shaved his head and raised $1,850 that day. He was proud to be a part of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising event.
“Besides the U.S. government, the group funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization,” said Beam.
To date in 2011, the St. Baldrick’s community has raised more than $13 million, with more than 800 events and 33,000 shavees registered worldwide. J. Gilligan’s St. Baldrick’s event raised $10,135, missing their $12,000 goal by only $1,865 but the community can still offer help.
“We invite everyone to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation as we move closer to a cure for every child,” said executive director of St. Baldrick’s, Kathleen Ruddy.
To locate more events, organize an event, sign-up to shave, donate or volunteer call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.
