Goin' Bald for Bucks kicks off sixth campaign

Western New York students, teachers, administrators and corporate employees from across the country are "Goin' Bald" once again this year to benefit cancer research and patient care at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

The "Goin' Bald for Bucks" fundraiser, a campaign that asks participants to collect pledges in return for shaving their heads or cutting off at least 10 inches of hair - which is donated to Locks of Love - kicked off on March 9 at Roswell Park, with RPCI's own employees taking turns in the barber chair to support the effort.

During the past five years, Goin' Bald for Bucks has become a favorite fundraiser among high schools and businesses, raising nearly $250,000. The dollars are applied each year to research showing the greatest promise to help save lives, and for support programs for patients and their families.

Goin' Bald is celebrating its sixth anniversary and more than 10 schools and businesses are already signed up to clip, snip and shave the way toward cancer cures.

Lake Shore Senior High School history teacher, Anthony George, founded the campaign as a tribute to his sister, Cathleen George, and to other patients, at the time of Cathleen's cancer fight. Cathleen succumbed to cancer on March 13, 2004, and Goin' Bald for Bucks has since become even more special, says George, with more and more people coming to him each year to learn how they can help.

"I can tell you from personal experience that it is nearly impossible for family members and friends to 'sit by' while their loved ones undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy that often cause hair loss," he said. "This event allows participants to show their loved ones just how much they care."

Nick A. Stento, a clinical research nurse at Roswell Park, took part in the kickoff event because he believes in the idea that "charity starts at home." Stento said that he feels that it is important to help raise money that will stay right here at Roswell Park so that the Institute's world-class researchers can continue their search for cures.

"We are all here for one reason - to further the mission of Roswell Park, which we can accomplish by supporting our researchers and doing whatever we can to give our patients the best care possible," said Stento.

Daemen College is one of the organizations that has joined the fundraiser.

For details on how to start a Goin' Bald for Bucks team or to make a secure online financial donation, visit www.roswellpark.org/giving. You can also call Steve Hannon at 845-8164 or e-mail steve.han non@roswellpark.org for more information.