Say goodbye to your hair for a good cause at the St. Baldrick’s ‘Shave Party’

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner. That means it’s time for the St. Baldrick’s “Brave the Shave.”’ Join the fight against childhood cancer by shaving your hair to stand in solidarity with young cancer warriors.

Each year, Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance partners with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Supercuts to bring two primary events to the Sacramento region. The partnership unites the community in raising funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research while honoring the brave children fighting this disease. Funds raised support national research along with local efforts at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This year’s first “Brave the Shave” takes place on Sat., March 8,^, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Westfield Galleria at Roseville on 1151 Galleria Blvd. Register and join in the fun! Or you can go bald by registering for the second event, Mon., March 10, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Mulvaney’s B&L, 1215 19th Street in Sacramento.

“Bald is beautiful when you are raising money to fight childhood cancer,” said Jessica Alonso, executive director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. “Register your team now so you can have fun at our ‘Brave the Shave’ events, knowing that every dollar raised helps fund lifesaving research.”

You can also sign up online to join the UC Davis Health team for the March 10 Sacramento event. Even if you’re not ready to Brave the Shave, you can still donate to the cause.

St. Baldrick’s mission is to “conquer kids’ cancer” by funding cutting-edge research for children of all ages — from babies and toddlers to teens and young adults. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants.

Local fundraising benefits pediatric cancer research at UC Davis

“These events are a great example of how Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center are working together to improve the quality of care for children with cancer, ensuring they receive top-tier treatment close to home,” said Marcio Malogolowkin, Chief of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at UC Davis Health.

Brave the Shave events are held in communities nationwide. So far, more than $9.4 million has been raised locally through Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance’s: ‘Brave the Shave’ events to benefit pediatric cancer research.

According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, every two minutes, a family learns the devastating news that their child has cancer. One in 263 children in the U.S. will receive a cancer diagnosis before turning 20 years old. While survival rates have improved due to research, for some children, there is still little hope for a cure.

“It is critical that we continue funding cancer research close to home,” said Alonso. “This is why we are proud to contribute to the groundbreaking research at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

Keaton’s legacy lives on

Robyn and Kyle Raphael founded the Keaton Raphael Memorial in 1998 in memory of their son, Keaton, who passed away from neuroblastoma — a cancer that begins in early nerve cells. Now known as Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, the organization provides vital emotional, financial and educational support to young cancer warriors and their families while fueling research efforts to find a cure.

“Childhood cancer impacts every aspect of a family’s life,” said Alonso. “Beyond the emotional toll, families often face severe financial hardships. The stress of medical bills, frequent hospital stays and the emotional strain of caring for a sick child can affect parents, siblings and loved ones, reshaping their daily lives in unimaginable ways.”