Every year around St. Patrick’s Day is the annual St. Baldrick’s Brave the Shave. This year’s event raised $50,000 for pediatric cancer research at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Dozens joined the fight against childhood cancer by shaving their heads to stand in solidarity with young cancer warriors while raising money for cancer research. The event was held on March 14 at Westfield Galleria in Roseville, which plans to hold the event again next year.
Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance partners with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Supercuts to raise money to support national pediatric cancer research, including local efforts at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The first St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event took place on St. Patrick’s Day 2000 as a challenge between three friends at a New York City bar. It has since grown into the world’s largest charity funder of childhood cancer research. The name St. Baldrick’s is a combination of the words “bald” and “St. Patrick’s.”
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 United States 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 Jessica Alonso, executive director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. “This is why we are proud to contribute to the groundbreaking research at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.”
