Rockille Centre's St. Baldrick’s raising more money

People all over town have been growing their hair for the big shave at the annual Rockville Centre St. Baldrick’s event on Saturday, March 22, beginning at 1 p.m. The venue has changed this year and will be at the Recreation Center on Oceanside Road.

The event is just one of over a thousand St. Baldrick’s events happening all year long around the world, where people shave their heads in solidarity, with kids fighting cancer, to raise awareness and to raise funds for life-saving pediatric cancer research. To date, the St Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity cofounded 15 years ago by RVC resident John Bender, has raised over $200 million. The local event has raised more than $1.75 million over the last 11 years, with over $155,000 raised from the 2013 event.

Worldwide, more than 175,000 children are diagnosed with childhood cancer each year. A child is diagnosed with cancer every 3 minutes. Only 80 percent of these children will survive.

“We would love to go out of business,” said John Bender. “But as long as there are sick kids, we will keep fighting — and shaving — for them.”

Last year over 200 men, boys, and one woman were shaved at the RVC event. Worldwide, over 331,000 heads were shaved. Local event volunteers (many women and girls) also play a big part in making the event a huge success by registering shavees, selling St. Baldrick’s merchandise and raffles, serving food, and entertaining children with fun activities.

While at the RVC event, be sure to visit the bake sale booth, where proceeds will benefit the family of Doug Gonzalez, a South Side Middle School student battling cancer. Event admission is free. Everyone is welcome. There will be head-shaving, live music by RVC dad Jim McGrath and friends, food, beverages, children’s activities and great raffles. New shavees of any age are welcome.

To donate baked goods or raffles, call or text Alanna Bender at 697-6383 or benderalanna@gmail.com. To register as a shavee, pledge a shavee or to donate, go to www.StBaldricks.org or contact Dan Schaefer at danieltschaefer@gmail.com or John LaCava at john.lacava@aranins.com. St. Baldrick’s welcomes all supporters to march in the RVC St. Patrick’s Day parade with them. Contact Dan Schaefer for more info.

Whether shaving or keeping your hair, come to the Rec Center after the St. Patrick’s Parade and support a great cause!