Curran shaves head for St. Baldrick’s fundraiser

St. Baldrick’s recently held its annual charity event at the St. Agnes Parrish Center. Attended by over five hundred people, the event raised funds for cancer research by individuals, known as shavees, who solicit donations to have their heads shaved in a symbolic solidarity with children who have cancer.

The Rockville Centre event attracted nearly 180 shavees. For the ninth straight year, New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran (R-Lynbrook) was a shavee. The event raised close to $113,000 for cancer research.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. The charity was formed on March 17, 2000 by three insurance executives – John Bender, Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell – who turned their company St. Patrick’s Day celebration into a head shaving event to benefit kids with cancer. The original twenty shavees had planned on raising $17,000, but instead they raised more than $104, 000.

“If you ask any of my colleagues and staff, they would tell you this is the event I look forward to most each year. This noteworthy charity puts on these incredible events each year to help children, and shows how the dedication and commitment of a few can make a large difference to so many in need,” said Curran.

St. Baldrick’s raised more than $30 million dollars for cancer research in 2012. Over 1,200 events took place nationwide this year, and donations are still streaming in.

Curran concluded, “Someday, I hope there will be a cure for childhood cancer, and I know that St. Baldrick’s will play a major role in discovering that cure.”