Dominick Brown, a Mepham High School senior who is preparing to join the U.S. Marines, shaved his head on Jan. 15 to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fund research for pediatric cancer.
Brown, who lives in North Bellmore, gathered with his friends and family in the school’s gymnasium as fellow “shavees” on the day before his early graduation, raising more than $500, which exceeded their $200 goal.
“I’m feeling great, I’m feeling accomplished,” Brown said. “I knew going into basic (training) I would have to shave my head regardless, so I felt it would be very good to do so for a great cause.”
St. Baldrick’s has worked to fund research into pediatric cancer for 25 years. Cancer is the most common disease-related cause of death among children in the U.S., and according to the foundation’s website, St. Baldrick’s is the largest charity that provides research grants for childhood cancer in the country.
The foundation’s main fundraising event, “Chop Your Locks for Charity,” is scheduled to take place on March 19. Each year, the fundraiser brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars — a large portion coming from the Mepham community. Mepham seniors have raised more than $700,000 throughout the foundation’s history.
Brown and Christopher Patten, a global history teacher at Mepham and an organizer for the school’s service learning program, worked together on the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser before his early graduation.
“We’ve had faculty members who have been impacted by childhood cancer with their own children,” Patten said. “It’s become something that the school really rallies behind.”
In the next few weeks, the rest of Mepham’s seniors will begin to plan their contributions to St. Baldrick’s annual fundraiser, and many of them are participants in the service leadership program. The program is designed to help Mepham students coordinate community service projects and make meaningful changes in their neighborhood.
Students have worked with the Ronald McDonald House and Autism Speaks, and even helped construct new local housing.
“The cause has always been near and dear to our heart right at high school,” Patten said. “What’s even more important right now is just how proud we are of one of our students to make the commitment to serve.
“That’s what we really advocate here,” he continued. “It’s for these kids to be the change they wish to see in the world. And right now, Dominick is embodying that.”
These students have helped coordinate the school’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, bringing music, dances and other performances to the night’s activities, which raise close to $50,000 every year, Patten said.
Brown’s ceremony was the first of its kind, kicking off the annual fundraiser two months early.
“It’s a way to celebrate Dom,” Patten said of Brown.
Brown graduated early because boot camp will begin on March 11 in Parris Island, South Carolina. When his training begins, he will undergo a three-month boot camp, followed by one month of Marine combat training, and six months of additional education.
Since childhood, Brown has aspired to become a Marine, and was inspired by military role models throughout his life, including family friend Adam Clark. Clark served in the Marine Corps from 2015 to 2019.
“The Marine Corps is going to be a solid entryway to the beginning of his adult life,” Clark said. “It’s going to be hard, but it is something that stays with you for the rest of your life, and it’s gonna be good for him.”
Clark is dating Brown’s sister and was introduced to the family four years ago, when Brown was in eighth grade.
“The second (Brown) learned that I was in the military, it was like a light bulb went off,” Clark said. “He wanted to know absolutely anything and everything.”
To Clark, joining the Marines is one of the greatest acts of service one can make.
“I believe that we all have the opportunity to make a difference in this world,” he said.
To learn more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation or to donate, visit StBaldricks.org.