Photo by: Frank Speziale
NORWICH – For 16 years, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has been raising money nationwide for a good cause through a unique head-shaving event which draws attention to lifesaving children’s cancer research.
With ambitions of raising more money than ever, the event will return to Norwich this weekend. The Norwich St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event to raise funds for childhood cancer research will start at 6 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post 189, 29 Sheldon St., Norwich.
The local St. Baldrick’s chapter has sights on a $20,000 goal this year. More than 45 local “shavees” have already registered to “brave the shave” to support the foundation’s mission to conquer childhood cancers, said event organizer A. Wesley Jones.
“Childhood cancers are a lot different than other cancers. Cancers in adults can, in most cases, be attributed to lifestyle or they’re hereditary. That’s simply not the case with childhood cancers,” said Jones. “Childhood cancers are completely random for the most part, so much more research is needed in order to find cures.”
The national St. Baldrick’s Foundation raised more than $36.9 million in 2015, continuing an upward financial trend started when the organization formed in 2000. According to the foundation website, only 4 percent of U.S. federal funding is solely dedicated to childhood cancer research.
