The event gives people a chance to show solidarity with children struggling with cancer.
Lisa Bass
Contributing writer
St. Baldrick’s Foundation will be having a Head-Shaving Event in Christiansburg to raise money for childhood cancer research on Monday.
This signature event, Christiansburg Shave for the Brave, will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church (220 W Main St.) from 7-9 p.m.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers, and give surviors long and healthy lives. Head-shaving events gives volunteers the opportunity to “go bald” in solidarity with kids fighting cancer.
This bold act of baldness has gained major momentum since its start in 2000. The name of the foundation, St. Baldrick’s, is not associated with a recognized saint, but as word play.
Children often endure hair loss as a distressing side effect of cancer treatment. Participants show support for cancer patients as well as fund cancer research in hopes of giving children the happy childhood they deserve.
The Christiansburg Shave for the Brave is a chance for individuals, groups or teams to make a difference in a fun and meaningful way.
Professional barbers will be in the St. Paul UMC Activity Building. Participants can be individuals or be sponsored in a support team. Donations are collected at the event or online.
James Belcher, the event coordinator, said, “ We are inviting other groups to form teams. Participants can raise money and pledge to shave their head in solidarity with childhood cancer patients or volunteers who want to participate and raise money, but may just not be up to shaving their head.”
Participants and donors can register online by typing in “Christiansburg” into www.stbaldricks.org/head-shaving.
To participate, anyone under 18 must have permission from a parent and a signed permission.
One in five children diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. will not survive. Those who do survive often suffer long-term effects from treatment too harsh for their developing bodies.
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, St. Baldrick’s Foundation is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer.
Donations raised at events like this support the development of childhood cancer treatments that gives kids their best chance at growing up cancer free.
