Head-Shaving

$17 Million Raised for Childhood Cancer Research

by St. Baldrick's Foundation
March 18, 2013

17MM.jpg

Sadie Madden and friendly rival Brian Cramer before braving the shave

This girl is on fire! As soon as Sadie Madden, 9, from La Grange, Illinois, saw the Disney/Pixar film, Brave, she wanted to grow her curly, fiery-red hair as long as Merida’s. But when she heard about St. Baldrick’s signature head-shaving events, Sadie’s plans changed right then and there — Sadie registered to shave her luscious locks.

At first, her mother, Kasey, was hesitant to let her shave her head, to which Sadie replied, “You’re not taking me seriously…Don’t you get it? What’s me feeling a little goofy compared to a kid getting cancer?”

sadiemerida.jpg

Sadie and Merida

With that courageous attitude, Sadie signed up for the local St. Baldrick’s event hosted by Palmer Place in La Grange and set her fundraising goal at $500.

It wasn’t long before the donations began to roll in, and Sadie found herself as the lead fundraiser for the event and also in a friendly competition with the LaGrange Fire Department and their St. Baldrick’s team, the IAFF 2338’s Baldest & Bravest.

Sadie with Firefighers.jpg

Sadie Madden vs. the Baldest & Bravest

As Sadie’s story began to spread like wildfire, donations began to come in from complete strangers. One came from a woman whose daughter passed away from cancer, and a $250 check was sent from someone who had heard about the brave redhead down at the Board of Trade.

“Every time she gets a donation, we make a sign and personalize it. I post it on the donor’s Facebook page, so all their friends see it,” Kasey says.

sadieafter.jpg

Sadie and Brian, brave and bald

Last night, Sadie put her hair on the line and shaved it off to help kids with cancer, and in the midst of all the commotion, took a moment to help us with our $17 million milestone announcement!

Congratulations to all for raising another million to support childhood cancer research!

Sadie has currently raised over $10,000, and has far surpassed her firefighter competitors! The men of IAFF 2338’s Baldest & Bravest are handling it well and know that all the money raised is going to a good cause!

Help Sadie reach her next $1,000 mark and donate on her head! Or do what Sadie did — sign up to shave your head for kids with cancer!


Share: