After raising more that $45,000 last year to help fight pediatric cancers, the St. Baldrick’s campaign has returned. It’s a global project; Thousands of volunteers around the world have their heads shaved to fund research of childhood cancers.

Family and friends can go online to www.stbaldricks.org, select “Find a Participant” and donate money directly to the person online without having to keep track of cash. Volunteers from Eisenhower will have their heads shaved after school on March 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the gym.

Join the fun and support a great cause – Log onto www.stbaldricks.org, click Sign Up and BE a SHAVEE. Next, register and upload a photo of yourself with hair and share why you've chosen to brave a shave. After you have created your account, go to Events, then Find an Event and search for Blue Island or Eisenhower High School. Select the “Blue Island Police – FOP Lodge 180” team and select to participate with the team. Creating an individual account online provides the foundation with an easier way of keeping track of donations and also allows friends and family members to sponsor and donate by using a credit/debit card. Eisenhower has set an event goal of $10,000.00, so let’s help out as much as we can. If you have any questions or problems during this process feel free to contact Dennis Sepessy by phone or e-mail.

Click a photo to enlarge

The facts about St. Baldrick’s:

1. Baldrick combines “bald” and “Patrick” – the organization originated as a dare between friends to raise money for cancer research by shaving heads on March 17, 2000;
2. Since, the organization has raised $68 million – more than 100,000 people have shaved their heads in 24 nations and all 50 states;
3. St. Baldrick’s raises more money for pediatric cancer research than any organization in the world except the U.S. government.

Money supports clinical trials, fellowships, grants

1. Research grants focus on finding new and better cures for childhood cancers;
2. St. Baldrick’s Fellows – new doctors training to specialize in pediatric oncology research;
3. St. Baldrick’s Scholars – in pursuit of exciting research, funded for three years or more. Because grant funds are so scarce, it’s difficult for those early in their careers to compete with more established researchers. These grants keep new researchers focused on childhood cancer;
4. Infrastructure grants help institutions treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure), or provide resources to make more research possible;
5. Multi-institution grants include the cooperative research and laboratories of the 200-member Children’s Oncology Group, as well as consortiums of institutions working on pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and bone marrow transplants for childhood cancer patients.

For questions, comments or more information, write to dsepessy@cityofblueisland.org