Editors note: After we went to print with this story, we learned that the organizers have changed the location to the Candor High School for the event. They will have signs posted at the original location.
From left, St. Baldrick’s volunteer Becky Wakeman shaves the head of UHS-Owego physician assistant Michael Feeney on March 20 inside the lobby of the practice. Feeney is unable to attend the St. Baldrick’s event scheduled on April 2 in Candor, but didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to share with others the critical need for children’s cancer research.
The community of Candor, N.Y. invites the public to join them on Sunday, April 2 to raise funds for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a cancer charity for childhood cancer research. A different twist than most charity events, participants not only raise money, but they also shave their heads in solidarity for children with cancer. The seventh annual event will be held at the Candor Fire Station from 1 to 4 p.m.
Michael Feeney, a physician assistant at United Health Services (UHS) in Owego, N.Y. kicked off the St. Baldrick’s event ahead of time. Feeney decided to have his head shaved on March 20 because he has other commitments and will be unable to attend this year’s event. Feeney also hopes that his early participation will inspire others to attend the April 2 event.
All dressed in St. Patrick’s Day themed clothing down to his multi-striped socks, and decked out with bright green hair and an orange beard, Feeney’s message to others who may still be thinking about participating but haven’t yet committed, is they need not worry about a bald head.
Feeney said, “The hair grows back!”
Candor resident Lou Heavenrich sat next to Feeney in a makeshift barber chair in the lobby at UHS-Owego, covered with a cape that read, “St. Baldrick’s: Shaving the way to conquer kids cancer.” Along with a head shave, both men were treated to a little trim of their beards, too.
From left, Candor resident Lou Heavenrich and UHS-Owego physician assistant Michael Feeney, two shavees in support of St. Baldrick’s, a cancer charity for childhood cancer research, get their heads shaved in solidarity for children with cancer. Shavers are Kelly Starkweather and Becky Wakeman. The Candor community is holding their annual St. Baldrick’s event on April 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Candor Fire Station.
Heavenrich feels a personal connection to the cause and has participated for many years. He explained that a college friend had a son who passed away from brain cancer, and in honor of him and all of the other children affected by cancer, he has participated since the beginning.
An extra nod for Heavenrich, last year he was officially knighted on the “Knights of the Bald Table,” a special recognition for volunteers.
Kelly Starkweather, co-organizer of the Candor event, has volunteered every year since its inception. Starkweather has had her head shaved twice in previous years, and shared the reason she wanted to help was, “After hearing so many stories about what kids go through.”
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants and cites that less than four percent of the National Cancer Institute’s budget is used toward childhood cancer research. According to St. Baldrick’s, nearly 300,000 children are diagnosed annually with cancer worldwide; in the U.S. more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease. With over a dozen types of childhood cancer and countless subtypes, each requires its own level of research; and St. Baldrick’s also cites that in the last 20 years only three drugs have been approved to treat children’s cancer.
Feeney said, “It’s something simple to do, and a lot of children are affected by cancer. The extra ten or twenty dollars can make a difference in research.”
A family-fun event centered on a St. Patrick’s theme, food, music, raffles and activities are planned. The second annual 5K run/walk takes off at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the event, which starts at the Candor Ambulance Garage.
Participants can register to be the shaver or the shavee, or register in the 5K. There is a $25 entry fee for the 5K that includes a tee shirt, or $15 without a shirt.
Joan Bartlett, a “shavee recruiter” who has volunteered at the St. Baldrick’s event for three years, shared that there are 44 people signed up so far to get shaved.
One team of participants this year is a group of 13 Newark Valley Middle School students who will have their heads shaved in honor of a classmate who is battling a second round of cancer.
Last year over $35,000 was raised and this year’s goal is $40,000.
Registration information is available at www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/4251/2017.
For more information, contact Kelly Starkweather at krstarkwe@gmail.com, call (607) 972-4395, or find the group on Facebook.
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