Patten said Mepham students have raised about $5,500 so far for St. Baldrick’s, and their goal is to get to $50,000 this spring. He added that about 150 “shave-ees” have signed up so far, and that his students are recruiting more Mepham students, as well as writing letters to community organizations, committees, teams and people to ask them to donate.

“I’m always dream big or go home,” Patten said. “This is teaching the kids that they can make a change if they work to do it.”

The St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events at both Calhoun and Mepham are open to members of the public who wish to participate. The shave-ees ask people to reciprocate the gesture that they are making by donating money to St. Baldrick’s. Donations can be made via credit card on Calhoun and Mepham’s pages on the St. Baldrick’s website, and the schools will also collect cash and check donations on March 19 and 20.

Magnuson called St. Baldrick’s a charity that is “close to people’s hearts.”

“Everyone has been touched by cancer in some type or form,” he said.