A close shave for Assemblyman

Assemblyman Brian Curran shaved his during the St. Baldrick’s charity event held in Rockville Centre.

St. Baldrick’s recently held its annual charity event at the St. Agnes Parish Center in Rockville Centre. Attended by more than five hundred people, the event raised funds for cancer research by individuals, known as “shavees,” who solicit donations to have their heads shaved in a symbolic solidarity with children who have cancer.

The event attracted nearly 180 shavees, and for the ninth straight year, New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran (Lynbrook-21st A.D.), chose to participate by having his head shaved. Nearly $113,000 was raised for cancer research.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. The charity was formed on March 17, 2000 by three insurance executives: John Bender, Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell – who turned their company St. Patrick’s Day celebration into a head-shaving event to benefit kids with cancer. The original twenty shavees had planned on raising $17,000, but instead that number totaled more than $104, 000.

“If you ask any of my colleagues and staff, they would tell you this is the event I look forward to most each year,” said Curran. “This noteworthy charity puts on these incredible events each year to help children, and shows how the dedication and commitment of a few can make a large difference to so many in need.”

St. Baldrick’s raised more than $30 million dollars for cancer research in 2012. Over 1,200 events took place nationwide this year, and donations are still streaming in.