Missed your chance to shave your head? You can still make a donation in support of children’s cancer research through St. Baldrick’s Foundation at stbaldricks.org.
I t’s time for a haircut again for University of Colorado sophomore Alex Scanlon.
Scanlon hasn’t cut his hair, not even a trim, since last year when he shaved it all off and raised $500 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds children’s cancer research. This year he brought in more than $4,000 for St. Baldrick’s and attributed his fundraising success to the length of his locks — and his blond-to-pink hair.
Scanlon and 143 others showed up for haircuts for a cause at the UMC fountain on Wednesday. The CU Herd, a student alumni association of the University of Colorado, successfully reached its goal to raise more than $20,000 to support children’s cancer research through the foundation by shaving heads.
The Herd, with the help of local sponsor On Broadway, who donated three barbers, has organized the March St. Baldrick’s Day event for seven years now.
“The first year we shaved about 50 heads, but the last couple years we’ve averaged between 100 and 150 people,” said Herd program manager Dawn Barone. What makes St. Baldricks Day so great — beyond the obvious boon of fighting cancer — she said, is that by shaving heads, “it makes people a part of that community.”
“It also helps support the kids with cancer who end up losing their hair,” Barone said. “I think it’s very symbolic.”
For Olivia Schlueter, a CU freshman, raising money and shaving her head in support of cancer research struck a personal note.
“Last year I dealt with pediatric thyroid cancer, so I wanted to show my support in this way,” she said as she rubbed her newly-shorn head. Schlueter underwent surgery, not radiation or chemotherapy treatment, and was able to keep her hair as she beat the disease.
Emily Pihlstrom, a marketing major at the Leeds School of Business with long, beautiful blonde locks, has been fundraising since December and set a personal goal of raising $2,100 for her 21st birthday; on Wednesday, she’d reached $2,227.
Pihlstrom used St. Baldrick’s Day to test her marketing skills. She created a campaign in which she put up fliers in the hallways of the business school, talked to all her classes, went to high schools, talked to student clubs, advertised in cafes around campus and of course reached out to family for donations. “I wanted to feel like I’ve done everything I could,” Pihlstrom said.
Now that she’s lost her tresses, Pihlstrom is going to take out two birds with one stone: She already raised money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, but she will also donate her braided hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit that provides hairpieces to children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments.
Cody Glickman, a senior, has participated in St. Baldrick’s Day every year since he’s been at CU.
“I’m graduating this year, but I hope to go back home or wherever I’m at and continue to keep doing it,” Glickman said.
His enthusiasm was apparent has he cheered on his fellow fundraisers.
“Hey man, styling and profiling, looking good buddy.”
