St. Baldrick's fundraiser returning to Calhoun

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven, nonprofit charitable organization that raises money for childhood cancer research, will host one of its signature head-shaving events at Calhoun High School on March 18, when more than 200 people will shave their heads “in solidarity” with children with cancer and raise money to eradicate childhood cancers.

Worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes, and one in five children diagnosed in the U.S. will not survive. With only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, St. Baldrick’s Foundation volunteers, supporters and donors are needed to continue the battle against this devastating disease.

A St. Baldrick’s fundraiser has been held annually at Calhoun High since 2007. In those seven years, more than $360,000 has been raised to help fund childhood cancer research, and over 300 girls (and some boys) have donated their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Last year Calhoun raised $66,000 and had more than 200 people shave their heads, 43 girls donate their hair and a hundred people volunteer their time to the effort.

Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded $127 million to support lifesaving research, making the foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries. For more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, call (888) 899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.  

To donate, click here http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/calhounhs