UPDATE 2015 / The 2015 St. Baldrick’s Shaving Event hosted by Naperville Public Safety is slated from 6-9PM Fri., March 20, at the Chicago Marriott – Naperville. The public is welcome.
UPDATE Sun., March 10, 2014: Naperville North hosts annual St. Baldrick’s Head-Shaving Event
During the Naperville North High School St. Baldrick’s Head- Shaving Event on March 8, teens and other youngsters raised nearly $35,000 toward a goal of $50,000. Donations are still being accepted in support of 73 individuals and 10 teams via the St. Baldrick’s Foundation online tally. According to organizer Chuck Koch, a counselor at the high school, it sometimes takes a month before all the donations and corporate matching gifts still to come can be counted.
Scott Boswell (holding mic) interviewed Erin Flewelling while her head was shaved as she sat in the lap of her sister, Emma Stancey.
Eight-year-old Erin, a third grader from an elementary school in District 203 said she shaved her head because she felt like she “had to do something” to show support of her principal and her neighbor, both of whom are battling cancer, noted Koch.
“So far, Erin has raised $1,405 for St. Baldrick’s. Big sister Emma has also raised $2,007 for St. Baldrick’s,” Koch said. “Emma followed in the footsteps of her brother Tom Stancey who shaved his head for St. Baldrick’s in 2011.”
Estelle Fischer-Fortney, a 5th grader also in School District 23, sat in the lap of her sister, Eloise Fischer-Fortney. Together the two sisters have raised over $2,000 to support St. Baldrick’s.
When Eloise was asked what motivated her to shave her head to support St. Baldrick’s, she wrote:
“I’ve wanted to do this for 3 years now, but committing to shaving a foot-plus of hair off is extremely difficult. I’ve matured over the past three years, though, and had many realizations. What if I was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through chemotherapy? I wouldn’t have the option to keep or shave my hair. The children who are actually diagnosed with cancer are unbelievably brave and inspirational. They are strong fighters and I would do anything to support them. When Mikey Gustafson died last year of brain cancer, I was in shock. I went home crying because I felt helpless. He didn’t deserve to die, along with the many other people touched with this frightening disease.”
Eloise continued, “However, he was strong. Before passing away, he decided to donate his brain tissue for further research. A young teenager that can decide to do something so big like that is so courageous. If he could be strong and donate his tissue, then the last thing I can do is support him, and other children, by shaving my head and collecting donations. I’ve raised over $1,700 and I’m so thankful to anyone who helped donate to me or support me. I hope that every dollar is used towards finding a cure for this disease. Some people tell me it’s impossible, but if we aren’t hopeful, then the millions of people with cancer won’t be either.”
Photos and update courtesy of Chuck Koch. Photos taken by NNHS English teacher Mitch Martin. Thanks!
FYI: Also this week, Naperville Public Service hosted its annual event Saturday evening with a goal of $75,000. According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation website, the head-shaving event at the Chicago Marriott-Naperville exceeded its goal, raising nearly $80,000. Donations are still being accepted in support of 162 participants and 17 teams.
For all the locally held St. Baldrick’s Head-Shaving Events, visit www.stbaldricks.org/search/Naperville.
Thanks to all!
Earlier post that previewed upcoming shaving events in Naperville
In 2012, St. Baldrick’s volunteers raised more than $30 million by shaving heads and raising funds in bold new ways. That record-setting fundraising effort has allowed St. Baldrick’s Foundation to mark a milestone—$100 million in childhood cancer research grants since 2005.
Timed in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Day festivities, local organizers throughout the nation are just revving up their clippers to achieve bigger goals to raise lots of the green stuff. In Naperville, events are planned Fri., March 8, and Sat., March 9. With each successful event, human lives—the lives of children with cancer—are being dramatically improved through the support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Discover how your clean-shaven head can help write the next chapter in conquering childhood cancer along with folks such as Mayor George Pradel, Naperville City Councilmen, teachers, firefighters, police officers, teens and more.
“The last few years I have helped coordinate an event at Naperville North High School to help raise money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation,” noted Naperville resident Chuck Koch, a school counselor at Naperville North High School. “St. Baldrick’s is a volunteer run organization dedicated to funding research of childhood cancer. Since 2005 they have contributed over $105 million to fund childhood cancer research, only the federal government has contributed more.”
Koch went on to say that this year, for the second time in less than three years, a NNHS student died of cancer. “As a school counselor and a dad, it is difficult for me to comprehend this loss.”
Koch continues to highlight the importance of fundraising and awareness groups such as St. Baldrick’s so that research continues to seek finding a cure.
As of Monday, just four days before Friday’s head-shaving event, the school had raised nearly half of its $50,000 goal for 2013, said Koch. ‘Excitement is building around the school, so we’ll see.”
Councilman Bob Fieseler sent a photo of himself with Mayor Pradel and Councilman Paul Hinterlong taken during a 2012 shaving event hosted by Naperville Public Service held at Players Indoor Sports.
For more information about St. Baldrick’s, visit : www.stbaldricks.org/ To make a donation on behalf of Koch’s head, visit www.stbaldricks.org/participants/ChuckKoch.
