Oceanside tween named ‘Bald Knight’ by St. Baldrick's

Every year, thousands of volunteers slide into a barber’s chair and have their hair shaved off to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, but only the most dedicated (and brave) earn the title of “Knight of the Bald Table.” One of those “bald knights” is 12-year-old William Goodwin, of Oceanside, a recent sixth-grade graduate of Oaks Elementary School No. 3.

William has been participating in charity shaves since he was 5, initially alongside his grandfather Thomas Toy, who got involved to honor William’s aunt Betsy Toy-Schowerer, who died at age 22 of leukemia. Toy died in 2020.

“We hereby bestow you with the title of ‘knight of the bald table,” reads a letter William received on June 24 from St. Baldrick’s, making him one of some 5,000 volunteers who have had their heads shaved for seven years. The letter goes on to say, “Funding the most promising research to seek cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long, healthy lives can only be accomplished by dedicated volunteers, like William.”

The recognition is part of the organization’s “League of Legendary Heroes” program, which rewards those with several years of service.

“Ye have entered the land where exceptional volunteers who have participated for three or more years are forever known as members of the League of Legendary Heroes,” the St. Baldrick’s website reads. Beyond the Knights of the Bald Table, there are even more prestigious titles: “Knight Commander” for 10 years of baldness, “Commander for a Cure” for 15 and “Baron of the Brave” for 20.

“I believe that it will help them find a cure,” William said when asked why he gets his head shaved. “They could use some money for research to help people, and maybe even to find the cancer faster.” He takes part, too, to honor his late grandfather.

St. Baldrick’s is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for childhood cancer research through volunteers sponsored by family members and friends, who go bald to stand in solidarity with cancer patients, who sometimes lose their hair.

William has participated in the Long Beach Polar Bear Plunge, which benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and last September he joined the Great Cycle Challenge USA, and raised over $1,000 for childhood cancer research. He plans on doing it again this September. He has also joined his grandmother Pam Toy in volunteering at local blood drives, where he likes to check people in, since he can’t donate blood yet. And he has helped his mother with several fundraisers to raise awareness of stillbirths, in honor of the death of his baby sister in 2017.

“I think my husband would be as proud as I am of William,” Pam Toy said. “He would be absolutely delighted, with a big grin on his face, and would try to support him in any way he could. William is a good kid. He is caring of other people — sometimes a little too much. He wears his heart on his shoulder, which is not always easy to do, but he really is trying to make a difference.”

This year, the local St. Baldrick’s event was back in person at the St. Agnes Parish Center in Rockville Centre on March 19, after the village’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. William and his family, calling themselves “Betsy’s Crew,” had raised nearly $900 online, and more in person. Because the shave takes place in March, William said, his head is a little cold for a while, but that’s OK with him, because he raises money for a good cause.

“This year my dad was also at St. Baldrick’s, and we got him to shave his beard,” William said. The crowd appeared eager to donate to the cause, to see the beard shaved off, and one spectator even stuffed a $100 bill into the donation jar.

“Seeing everyone shave their heads in solidarity is such a humbling act to watch,” Brooke Tanner, the organizing director of this year’s event, said. It’s a beautiful expression of humanity, and it’s especially touching when kids like William participate year after year.”

For the Goodwins, lending a helping hand is a family affair. “My husband is a police officer, and always looks out for people,” Maggie Goodwin, William’s mother, said. “I worked in EMS with people who needed help. William’s grandma was a social worker for well over 30 years. Our whole family, at some point, has strived to help people.”

William’s father, Craig Goodwin, praised his son’s selflessness. “He just has a big heart — he has that passion in him,” Craig said. “I hope it came from us, but he has taken it to the next step.”