Volunteers shave their heads for childhood cancer research
Men and women took deep breaths and smiled bravely when they heard the sharp mechanical buzz of the electric razor.
It was their time. They were going bald.
Around 100 people, mostly CU students, shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation at the UMC fountain on March 12.
Eric Esteb, a 23-year-old senior film major, rubbed the smooth skin where his hair used to be and smiled.
“It feels nice,” Esteb said and then laughed. “I was worried my head was going to be gigantic.”
Esteb was part of a team called “Rub Our Heads for Good Luck,” which included three CU students and one student from Metropolitan State College of Denver. Their team raised over $2,000 for the foundation.
Started as a challenge between three friends in 1999, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation now registers thousands of volunteers to go bald every year. Donations fund research to find cures for childhood cancers.
Toby Wellington, a 21-year-old junior exercise science major at Denver Metro and a member of Esteb’s team, said the good cause was what drove him to face the razor.
“All these kids who have cancer are 15 years old, 8 years old, 4 years old,” Wellington said. “When I was that age, I was playing outside and playing with friends. Anything I can do to help these kids is well worth it.”
Many shavees stated similar reasons as to why they were participating. Allison Hamrick, a 19-year-old sophomore mechanical engineering major, said she had other motives as well.
“I wanted to get rid of some sort of identity,” Hamrick said. “I always wanted to shave my head, and when else am I going to do it?”
Hamrick also said that despite losing all of her hair, she was more happy than emotional. This attitude was mirrored in the smiling faces around the fountain area.
Crowds shouted “Keep it!” when barbers shaved volunteers’ hair into Mohawks before taking it all off. One girl, with ponytail in hand, reached up to touch her smooth head and laughed, saying, “Oh my God, my tiny head!” Others joked about all the money they would save on shampoo or all the sunscreen and wool hats they would need to buy.
Event coordinator Catherine Franklin, a 20-year-old sophomore Germanic studies and geography major, was enthusiastic about the success of the event only an hour after it began.
“A lot more people registered and donated money beforehand,” Franklin said. “Our goal is $15,000 but we’ll probably pass that, if we haven’t already.”
Boulder is hosting St. Baldrick’s events for the fourth year. In addition to the event at the UMC, volunteers will be shaving their heads at the Fox Theatre on March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fundraising goal at this location is $120,000.
To donate money or register to go bald, go to the St. Baldrick’s Web site.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Morgan Keys at morgan.keys@colorado.edu.
