Students at Wellington C. Mepham High School in North Bellmore will host the 16th annual Chop Your Locks for Charity event on March 18, raising funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding childhood cancer research.
The event, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the school’s south gym, encourages students, faculty, staff and community members to shave their heads in solidarity with children battling cancer, to donate 10 or more inches of hair, or collect pledges. Registration and donations can be made online or at the event.
“Each year, our students step up to make a tangible difference in the lives of children and families facing unimaginable challenges,” Chris Patten, social studies teacher and event organizer, said.
Kerry Dennis, another co-organizer and social studies teacher, told the Herald the fundraiser became a Mepham tradition in 2008 and was revived in 2013.
“We made a pledge that we would continue to do this event until there is a cure and less harmful treatments for childhood cancers,” she said.
Dennis added that the school community has been personally affected by pediatric cancer. “I think it’s deeply personal for our community,” she said. “We have had a number of students over the years who have battled cancer when they were children … and we are in a very generous community.”
As of press time, more than $60,000 has been raised.
“There’ll be a DJ there, raffles, music, and right now we have a competition amongst the students,” she said of the March 18 fundraiser. “The student that raises the most money will be principal for a day.”
For 25 years, St. Baldrick’s has worked to fund research into pediatric cancer and remains the largest charity in the United States providing research grants specifically for childhood cancer. Cancer is the most common disease-related cause of death among children in the country. Since its founding on July 4, 1999, when three friends held a single head-shaving fundraiser in Manhattan, St. Baldrick’s has grown into one of the largest private funders of pediatric cancer research.
The foundation became a registered 501(c)(3) charity in 2004 and has since awarded more than $369 million in research grants to support nearly 2,000 studies and trials across more than 30 countries. Its funding has helped advance scientific priorities worldwide, support international scholars, and drive breakthroughs such as new drug approvals and expanded clinical trials that improve survival and quality of life for children with cancer.
Each year, the fundraiser brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars, with a large portion coming from the Mepham community. Seniors at Mepham have collectively raised more than $700,000 for St. Baldrick’s over the history of the event.
Dennis reflected on the event’s enduring impact and the hope it represents for children battling cancer.
“It would be amazing if we didn’t have to have the event because we succeeded in finding a cure for childhood cancer,” she said. “But until we have that, I hope that the event continues to be a staple within this community, not only raising an incredible amount of money to help fund the research, but also paying tribute to those that bravely battle this disease.”
