Last month, Florida Representative Ted Deutch became the first Congressperson to shave his head for St. Baldrick’s. Read on to learn more about how he’s bringing his commitment to the cause back to Capitol Hill.
When Congressman Ted Deutch got a call from a friend asking if he’d get involved with St. Baldrick’s, his answer was an automatic “yes.”
He had no idea at the time that in just a few months he’d be bald.
He also didn’t know about the problems the childhood cancer community faces. “I wasn’t aware of how many families are affected, how many kids get cancer, how many of them die from cancer, and the relatively small amount of research money that goes to childhood cancer,” he said.
As he learned more about these realities, he knew he had to do something more.
Learn more about the realities of childhood cancer >
So, with one week to go till the St. Baldrick’s event, he put a bounty on his head: If he could raise $50,000 for childhood cancer research, he’d shave.
Congressman Deutch walks on stage at the St. Baldrick’s event in Delray Beach, Florida.
The response he got surprised even him. “I heard from this incredible cross section of people in my life … people I went to high school with, people that I work with in other cities, people that I work with now and my constituents — all across the board, the response was beautiful and positive,” he said. “I was really moved by the way that doing something like this can raise awareness in a very profound way.”
By the time the big day rolled around, he had raised over $60,000, and St. Baldrick’s was about to see the first U.S. Congressperson go bald for the cause!
See where the money goes >
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but the event was much grander than I’d expected. It was amazing. There was a huge crowd, the atmosphere was incredible, there were dozens of people who got their heads shaved … and it was really moving to see this stream of people walk up on stage to do this and all for a really incredible cause,” he said. “I loved the event and I was thrilled just to be there.”
It made such an impression on him that he went back to Washington, D.C., and joined the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus, a group of representatives dedicated to bringing childhood cancer issues to the forefront of discussion on Capitol Hill.
Congressman Deutch is all smiles as he walks off the stage.
His new haircut has been a great conversation starter among his colleagues. “They ask why, and I then have the opportunity to tell them about childhood cancer, why research is so important, and the incredible work St. Baldrick’s does,” Congressman Deutch said.
And it’s catching on.
Congressman Deutch is hopeful that for his next shave, he’ll be bringing some friends. “I think there is a making of a larger contingent of members of Congress to participate,” he said.
We hope so, too!
Join St. Baldrick’s advocacy action network, Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer, and see how YOU can urge Congress to act now and make a change for kids with cancer.
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