Four Longwood Students Go Bald for St. Baldrick's
Kyle Centers
Issue date: 3/3/10 Section: Features
Two Longwood juniors and two seniors are planning to shave their heads in solidarity with children with cancer this semester, participating in fundraising efforts for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. St. Baldrick's is a leading organization in funding childhood cancer research grants, second only to the United States Government.
"Volunteers sign up and they raise money until they shave their head," said Communication Studies major and St. Baldrick's participant Rachel Cave, "and they shave their head in solidarity with kids who have cancer because they typically lose their hair during treatments." Cave has spearheaded the fundraising here at Longwood and describes it as a way of saying, "We're here for you" and that you are not alone; "It's kind of a big statement."
Each volunteer has a page on the St. Baldrick's website where people can see the shavees, a list of previous donors, the children their money will go to and links to donate. There are details on the children's names, age, history, type of cancer and their personal stories of how they have dealt with cancer in their lives.
Cave is fundraising until she shaves her head at the big St. Baldrick's event on Thurs., March 25 at Boylan Heights in Charlottesville, VA, along with fellow shavee senior Ben Byrnes. Cave has reached almost the halfway mark of her $1,000 goal, with $421.50 in donations; while Byrnes has yet to progress toward his $100 goal.
All hair that is long enough is donated to the Locks of Love charity. Even if boys' hair is not long enough, they are still encouraged to participate, according to Cave.
While Cave and Byrnes will be attending the Boylan Heights event on March 25, the two other Longwood shavees, theatre majors Courtney Edwards and Holly Owens, will not be able to attend because of conflicts. They have decided to hold their own events so they can participate in the fundraising efforts.
"I feel like this was a great cause that crossed my path," said Owens. "I felt like I needed a part in it and that now was the right time in my life to shave my head with children with cancer."
"Volunteers sign up and they raise money until they shave their head," said Communication Studies major and St. Baldrick's participant Rachel Cave, "and they shave their head in solidarity with kids who have cancer because they typically lose their hair during treatments." Cave has spearheaded the fundraising here at Longwood and describes it as a way of saying, "We're here for you" and that you are not alone; "It's kind of a big statement."
Each volunteer has a page on the St. Baldrick's website where people can see the shavees, a list of previous donors, the children their money will go to and links to donate. There are details on the children's names, age, history, type of cancer and their personal stories of how they have dealt with cancer in their lives.
Cave is fundraising until she shaves her head at the big St. Baldrick's event on Thurs., March 25 at Boylan Heights in Charlottesville, VA, along with fellow shavee senior Ben Byrnes. Cave has reached almost the halfway mark of her $1,000 goal, with $421.50 in donations; while Byrnes has yet to progress toward his $100 goal.
All hair that is long enough is donated to the Locks of Love charity. Even if boys' hair is not long enough, they are still encouraged to participate, according to Cave.
While Cave and Byrnes will be attending the Boylan Heights event on March 25, the two other Longwood shavees, theatre majors Courtney Edwards and Holly Owens, will not be able to attend because of conflicts. They have decided to hold their own events so they can participate in the fundraising efforts.
"I feel like this was a great cause that crossed my path," said Owens. "I felt like I needed a part in it and that now was the right time in my life to shave my head with children with cancer."
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