What comes to mind when you think of kids, cancer and a headshavinggood time? Hopefully you think of St. Baldrick’s.
It all began in 2000 when three executives in New York decided to turn their annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration into a fundraiser. They shaved their heads in solidarity of children who lose their hair during cancer treatment.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non–profit organization that aims to raise awareness and money for cures and advances that will save lives and improve the quality of life for children with cancer. Since 2000, the St. Baldrick’s celebrations have been held in the United States, as wellas in 13 international locations, with more than $33 million raised in support of its goals. Incidentally, that means more than 44,000 shaved heads.
The St. Baldrick’s events are currently held in 46 states with Texans participating in eight events held throughout the state.
Participants range from the “shavees,” volunteers who help run the event and people who just want toattend the event to show support. “Shavees” are people who are brave enough to seek monetary donations for the St. Baldrick’s cause with the end result being a voluntary loss of their hair via a clipper cut.
Christopher Viltz organized San Antonio’s first St. Baldrick’s celebration in 2005 after following the foundation for several years.
“What drew me to St. Baldrick’s was that people were actually shaving their heads as a means to helpcure cancer,” he said. “Since San Antonio is one of the 10 largest cities, I wondered why we didn’t have anything like that here considering we have major research facilities.”
In 2007, St. Baldrick’s had over 18,000 registered shavees signed up to receive their new bald look at various venues throughout the world. Of all those who registered, 2,142 were women, more than double the number who participated the year before.
Viltz is proud at how the local event has grown in popularity each year thanks to the generous support from the community.
“The first year we only raised $5,000 and had 17 people shave their heads. Last year we had 127 shavees and raised over $24,000,” he said. “We’ve even had women shave their heads at all three events with more participating each year. The first year we had a 65–year–old woman volunteer to have her head shaved, which surprised us.” This year‘s goal is to have 200 shavees and raise at least $50,000.
In an effort to pique the medical community’s interest in the local event, Viltz, through his contact with Dr. Sharon Murphy, director of the Children’s Cancer Research Institute at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, was introduced to Dr. Gail Tomlinson, division chief of the Hematology/Oncology/Immunology Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Murphy and Tomlinson were already familiar with St. Baldrick’s through their work with the Children’s Oncology Group (COG).
Tomlinson also works with the Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital and provided Viltz a tour of the children’s cancer unit facility. While visiting, Viltz ran into last year’s St. Baldrick’s San Antonio host child, Bobby Rodriguez, who was at the facility for treatment.
“I was filled with joy and happiness at seeing Bobby and glad of the efforts we had given in orderfor him to have a better life,” he said. “He’s still fighting his battle but is on the road to recovery.”
As a result of his contact with Tomlinson, Viltz was able to recruit a group of doctors and medicalstudents who will participate in the 2008 St. Baldrick’s event as shavees.
This year’s event is scheduled for March 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mad–Dogs British Pub, locatedat 123 Losoya St., Suite 19 on the Riverwalk.
Terry Corless, CEO of MadDogs, had heard of St. Baldrick’s since a friend, who was a shavee in the 2007 event, had approached him asking for his sponsorship.
Corless says he was “very excited”that MadDogs was approached to host the 2008 St. Baldrick’s event, and that he and his team are “always very happy to be involved with charitable events. This more so because of the combination with fun and the charitable cause which is close to our heart. We love children.”
MadDogs General Manager Danny Badiola said MadDogs plans to help promote the upcoming event by advertising in–house with posters, regular DJ announcements and staff advertising to customers.
Badiola indicated that in lieu of his own head, he will definitely get St. Baldrick’s a head to shave at the event.
So, if you are considering a cooler hair style for San Antonio’s upcoming sweltering summer months, get a few friends together to register and help raise money for the St. Baldrick‘s cause. After all, the only thing you have to lose is your hair.
