Shavees bravely go under the clippers at a past St. Baldrick’s South Shore Shave-Off Challenge.
The cause is simple: saving the lives of children who have been stricken with cancer. The method is also simple, considering that anyone owning a head can join the fight.
This year, the St. Baldrick’s South Shore Shave-Off Challenge will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 4 to 11 p.m. at the Showmen’s Club Event Center in Gibsonton. The Shave-Off Challenge promises to be a fun, kid-friendly event, with music by Loose Cannons, Twisted and Shorty Magoo, karaoke, 50/50, cornhole tournament, bake sale, raffles, silent auction and kids’ contests.
“It’s like a party to do good,” said Celia Easton, lead organizer of this year’s event. “It’s a great time, but also rewarding to know you’re giving hope to children with cancer.”
Celia and her husband Steve joined the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in remembrance of their son Stephen, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 34.
Members of Team Stephen have helped raise $27,000 over three years.
“The Shave-Off Challenge was a passion he had,” said Celia, an event she says her son attended every year at O’Tooles Irish Pub in Brandon, where he worked. Together with many of Stephen’s friends and family, the Eastons have since created “Team Stephen,” which has singlehandedly raised more than $27,000 over three years to aid in the battle against childhood cancer. Celia’s husband Steve cut off his ponytail of 40 years and shaved his head bald as his way of honoring their son.
Founded in 2000, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation began as a head-shaving event that continues to be the signature event of the foundation to this day. Volunteers, sponsored by family, friends and employers, shave their heads in solidarity with children, who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment.
The concept of St. Baldrick’s was created in 1999 by three Irish-American New York executives, who decided to turn their St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for pediatric oncology research. The name of the foundation resulted from a combination of the words “Bald” and “Patrick,” and grew from a single event to a nationwide effort in just a few years.
The SouthShore St. Baldrick’s Shave-Off Challenge is fun for all ages.
Since 2000, more than 390,000 shavees — including more than 49,000 women — have shaved their heads at 9,000 events in all 50 states and 28 countries, raising critical lifesaving funds for childhood cancer research. Events are organized by volunteers and are unique in every way — from small groups of people shaving their heads at restaurants to hundreds of people getting bald at colleges, parks, even airport terminals.
With a goal of raising $20,000 this year, the South Shore head-shaving event is 100 percent volunteer driven, with all proceeds going to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Childhood cancer isn’t just one disease — there are over a dozen types of childhood cancer and countless subtypes, each requiring specific research to develop treatments. Worldwide, 175,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease —more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined.
Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than 100 fellow and scholar awards to cancer research experts and has become one of the world’s largest contributors to cancer research, surpassed only by the U.S. government.
A smiling, young cancer survivor.
The foundation also places importance on research to address the side effects of treatment, the long-term effects faced by survivors, and the psychological impact on children and families battling cancer.
“Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer, or donate,” said Celia, “you will be helping to give love and support to these children, while being a part of the fun of this ‘party for a cause.’”
For more information, visit the South Shore St. Baldrick’s Shave-Off Challenge website at www.stbaldricks.org/events/SouthShore2015 or call Celia Easton at 813-477-1858.
Team Stephen was named after the late Stephen Easton. The Shave-Off Challenge was his passion.
