Roxboro Middle School raises $2,000 during St. Baldrick's fundraiser

Roxboro Middle School held their second St. Baldrick’s fundraiser on Friday, March 4, raising $2,000 for the foundation.

St. Baldrick’s events entail shaving a couple inches or all of a participant’s hair to raise awareness of childhood cancer and money for research. The shaving can also act as a supporting gesture to kids who lose their hair during treatment. “Shavees” raise money before getting their haircut at the events.

According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation website, “We shave because kids with cancer often lose their hair during treatment, and we stand proudly bald beside them. But the true goal – to cure childhood cancer – will be accomplished because, while shaving, we raise funds for lifesaving childhood cancer research.”

Leading up to the event the school held a week of activities – such as T-shirt sales and a March Madness tournament – to help raise the total $2,000. The last time Roxboro held a St. Baldrick’s event was 2014.

“You’re here because you’re willing to contribute to this noble cause,” said Principal Patrick McNichols to the attending students. McNichols also shared that his mother was cancer-free for 25 years.

Students and teachers packed the Roxboro auditorium, paying $2 each to attend. Receiving normal cuts were Marty Javorek, Jacob Ross, John Adams, Ryan Williams, Patrick McNichols, Paul Gustafson, Larry Sawchik, Josh Goldberg, Chase Thomas and Peter Adorjan. Losing eight inches was Dani Copeland and going bald were Amy Statler and Kim Kolecki. Four area stylists and three students helped cut hair during the event.

Two days later on Sunday, March 6, the Cleveland Heights Community Center held their fifth-annual St. Baldrick’s event. Students and teachers from schools in Roxboro, Fairfax, Canterbury and Cleveland Heights participated, as well as kids from outside the district like Gesu, Onaway, Fernway, Shaker Heights, Woodbury, Lomond, Mercer and Boulevard.

After four hours and 200 shaved heads, a total of $105,000 had been raised toward a goal of $111,000.

The event was dedicated to the memory of a Fairfax kindergartner named Rebecca Meyer, who died from a brain tumor on her sixth birthday in 2014. The event also honored Austin Gallagher, a Fairfax third-grader and two-time cancer survivor.

Photo courtesy of Patti Carlyle.