NEW YORK—Howard Margolies of United Healthcare joined five local businessmen yesterday at Stout's bar in Manhattan, to shave their heads for the St.Baldrick's Foundation. By going bald, the six men have so far raised more than $30,000 for children's cancer research. The funds raised go towards supporting children like Gina Nulieri of Holbrook, New York, an eight-year-old cancer patient who was honored at the event.
St. Baldrick's Foundation (Baldrick is a combination of the word Bald and St. Patrick's day) was founded by three friends in 1999. Their purpose was to "help benefit society in some way." So their company's St. Patrick's Day party turned into a benefit event for kids with cancer. Since 2000, they have held head-shaving events in 18 countries and 46 U.S. states, raising more than $34 million dollars.
Many others have joined in this fund raising event. Joe Bartlett, host of the WOR Morning Show and Saturday Morning Live is one of them. Mr. Bartlett shaved half of his head in the studio as part of his morning talk show. He will next go to the famous Jim Brady's to shave the rest of his hair.
Jim Brady's was the home of the first St. Baldrick's head-shaving event, and each year the event gets larger and larger. This year the New York Yankees gave a $10,000 donation on Joe's behalf. The second half of Joe Bartlett's head will be shaved off by none other then Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, who plans to attend the event as a celebrity barber. With over 50 shavees, this event is bound to be a giant success.
Each year more then 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, and this year St. Baldrick's is hoping to bring in at least $17 million by shaving 25,000 heads at 600 events worldwide.
Other celebrities are also joining in on the hair-shaving event; the NHL hockey team and the Colorado Avalanche are among them. At Fado's Irish Pub in Denver, the players shaved each other's heads as they styled their hair in all kinds of wild hairstyles before going completely bald.
In addition to being a shavee, some celebrities like the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, are giving tickets away to their April 1st game to everyone who signs up at the O'Donovan's Irish Pub to have their heads shaved.
With all the events going on all over the country, the children whose lives are being touched are keeping a very positive attitude over all. Like Jacob Anderson, who is only 10 years old, suffers from a brain tumor. Besides being in protocol for 54 weeks and receiving chemotherapy and radiation, he still has a positive outlook on life and is highly creative as he likes to use his talent to build things using Legos and Erector sets.
Gina, who is 8 years old and is nicked named "Gina, cancer warrior" was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, and honored at the Stout's even in New York. She seems to be in good spirits lately and she actually went to school on Wednesday. Millie, Gina's sister, says her sister is her hero and is joining in to have her head shaved as well to raise money for her sister's health.
On Saturday March 22nd, at another St. Baldrick's event, Gina will be honored once again, this time at Spectacular Eastside Parties in Deer park. The event will be hosted by Cindy Merkler.
Gina, whose motto is "Together we can beat this," stands united with all the other little children fighting cancer. Gina's determination is strong, and she is determined to beat her cancer once again.
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