St. Patrick’s Day Marks 10-Year Anniversary of First St. Baldrick’s Head-Shaving Event

Thousands Get Bald March 17 to Support St. Baldrick’s and Childhood Cancer Research

LOS ANGELES (March 17, 2010) – This St. Patrick’s Day, thousands of people across the country will say goodbye to their hair in the hopes of also saying goodbye to childhood cancer. This holiday, which is usually earmarked by leprechauns and all things Irish, has become a trademark day for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research.

At more than 120 events across the county, people will join St. Baldrick’s in their mission of Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer! At St. Baldrick’s events, volunteers proudly shave their heads to stand in solidarity with children who typically lose their hair during cancer treatments. March 17 is more than just another St. Patrick’s Day for St. Baldrick’s, it marks the 10th anniversary of the first head-shaving event.

“Today marks a huge day for our organization,” says Kathleen Ruddy, executive director for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “We want to say thank you to the countless men, woman and children that proudly get bald and help raise critical funds for childhood cancer research that we believe will one day lead to a cure. Whether you are a first time shavee or if this is your tenth year shaving, your support makes a difference.

Since the first head-shaving event on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000, St. Baldrick’s has contributed more than $50.5 million dollars to pediatric cancer research and shaved more than 135,000 heads. Much of these funds were collected at the more than 3,500 head-shaving events that have taken place since the inaugural event. To date, St. Baldrick’s volunteers and shavees have already raised more than $11 million for childhood cancer research in 2010. 

St. Patrick’s Day is just the beginning of the excitement – more than 540 events are still in the works and thousands of heads will face the clippers throughout 2010. To locate or organize an event in your community, pledge to shave or donate money, visit StBaldricks.org. You can also become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and visit the St. Baldrick’s YouTube channel.

About The St. Baldrick’s Foundation

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The Foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is grateful to its many volunteers (bald or not!), donors and sponsors, including Allied World, Barbicide, Dowling & Partners, elope and PartnerRe. For more information about St. Baldrick’s, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

###

Contact: Sara McCarthy, St. Baldrick's Foundation

Email: media@stbaldricks.org

Phone: (626) 792-8247 x. 47

Contact: Jayme Palumbo, Fleishman-Hillard

Email: jayme.palumbo@fleishman.com

Phone: (919) 334-3779