Childhood cancer is a life changing diagnosis for a child and for his/her family. More children are lost to cancer than any other disease in the U.S., and worldwide, a child is diagnosed every two minutes. In the 1950’s close to all the children that were diagnosed with cancer died. Now because of the new research the children that are diagnosed with the most common type of cancer will live. However, many other types have had limited research and the kids have little hope for a cure. With the help of St. Baldricks, as of 2012, $100 million dollars was given to childhood cancer research to help find a cure for all children.

St. Baldrick’s is a non-profit organization created to raise awareness and donations to go towards the research to help find cures for childhood cancer. Every year men and women make the pledge to shave their heads in solidarity with the children that have lost their hair through medical treatments. As they register to become a shavee, friends and family donate money to them under their name to meet a goal before the shave date. Many shavees also make the commitment to continue to shave each year for seven years and be a part of Knights of the Bald Table.

This year the Farmingdale Federation of Teachers created a team to shave their heads. The captain is Mr. Jim Hughes, and he will be shaving his head along with other teachers in the building. Mr. Hughes started shaving his head for the first time last year and was motivated by his two students, Will Hroch and Nick Carbone, who were active participants. His team raised close to $2,500 last year. Other parts of the school were also involved, such as the knitting club, who made wool hats for them to wear after the event. This year the event will be held at The Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale on Sunday, March 19th. To make donations to the cause you can go to stbaldricks.org and donate to a shavee or to a team.