Thousands Join the Fight to Take Childhood Back from Cancer

LOS ANGELES (March 19, 2019) – This month, in cities across the U.S., thousands of people will rock the bald for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Men, women and kids are choosing to shave their heads and prove that bald is beautiful, all to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

This year will mark the 20th head-shaving event hosted at Jim Brady’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Manhattan – or what some call the birthplace of St. Baldrick’s!

On March 17, 2000, colleagues from the reinsurance industry, John Bender, Enda McDonnell, and Tim Kenny all sat under the clippers for the very first time and shaved their heads in support of kids affected by cancer. Since that time, the organization they helped establish, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, has become the number one charitable funder of childhood cancer research grants in the world.

St. Baldrick’s refuses to accept that children continue to be diagnosed with cancer; that children continue to suffer long-term health problems resulting from their cancer and treatment; and that so many kids have their lives cut short by childhood cancers.

Worldwide, a child is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes. In the U.S., one in five kids diagnosed won’t survive.

By participating in a head-shaving event, people can raise money for vital childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick’s volunteer “shavees” come from all walks of life. Some are medical professionals who’ve treated childhood cancer patients in the past. Others are friends or family members of a child diagnosed with cancer. Some don’t have a personal connection, but simply want to help save the lives of children with cancer. This year alone, more than 25,000 people have registered to shave their heads at more than 920 events, raising a total of $17.3 million so far.

To date, St. Baldrick’s has granted more than $258 million, supporting the best childhood cancer research, wherever it takes place. Although advances in research have been made, there is still work to be done in the fight against kids’ cancers.

Join the fight. Register. Fundraise. Show-up. Shave. You can help save kids’ lives.

Share your support on social media by tagging @StBaldricks and using the hashtags #JoinTheFight and #StBaldricks.

About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
As the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is leading the charge to take childhood back from cancer. St. Baldrick’s funds some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts who are working to find cures and better treatments for all childhood cancers. Kids need treatments as unique as they are – and that starts with funding research just for them. Join us at StBaldricks.org to help support the best childhood cancer research, no matter where it takes place.

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