BALD is beautiful
Amherst Central High School students shave for a cause
by ANDREA KIMBRIEL, Reporter
Students at Amherst Central High School got new hairdos on the school's front lawn during the Goin' Bald for Bucks fundraiser for Roswell Park Cancer Institute on June 7.

Amherst Central High School English teacher Joe Thielman admires his new hair cut on a student's camera. Thielman, who was one of three teachers 'going bald for bucks,' opted out of the Mohawk and had the remainder of his locks sheared moments later. Photos by Matt Chandler

Nine students and three teachers signed up to shave their heads or cut off at least 10 inches of hair. More students got in the action after seeing their friends get shaved.

Joe Tenebruso called home to get his parents' permission to buzz his head.

"My aunt has cancer. I wanted to do it to support her," he said.

He was a little worried about how his girlfriend would react.

It's the first year that the high school has done this type of fundraiser. Participating students and teachers collected more than $1,200 in pledges for Roswell Park, said Amy Valenti, one of the event's planners.

Amherst Central Senior Vicki Mariani who arrived at school sporting hair to the middle of her back, was a last minute volunteer for the 'Bald For Bucks' fundraiser. Christina Hessell, a stylist at Supercuts, took the clippers to Mariani's head (photo above) and left the teen sporting a drastically different look for her upcoming graduation photos (right). Upon seeing the final result, Mariani exclaimed, "I don't think I realize what I just did."

Mark Tarquini, a junior, said finding sponsors wasn't hard. He just asked friends to donate five bucks.

"It's just an easy thing to do a benefit for. It's for a good cause, and hair grows back so why not give it away?" said Tarquini.

Heather Knapp, a senior at Amherst, got her hair cut short for the first time since first grade. She raised $135 in pledges, and was expecting more to come in later, she said.

"Little kids lose their hair every day. I figured I could do something to help," she said.

Steve Hannon, special events coordinator for Roswell Park, said 15 or 16 schools and several businesses in the area are participating in the Goin' Bald for Bucks program this year.

"The program keeps getting bigger. Students seem to love it. The events are fun, and the teachers and students get into it," he said.

The program has raised $140,000 for cancer research and patient care programs this year, said Hannon.

English teacher Joe Thielman went bald in memory of his best friend's mother who lost her battle with cancer, and his sister-in-law who is fighting it now, he said.

"I knew that teachers doing this would raise awareness for Roswell. And it's a symbol of solidarity with people that are struggling with cancer," he said.

He said that it's alright if some people would rather sponsor him than shave their own heads. The money donated will help fight cancer in a practical way.

Volunteers from Supercuts shaved students' hair. Sasha Padilla, a Supercuts employee, said the company was involved with community programs when she started working for them 10 years ago, but this is the first time she's done an event like this at a school.

"It's just good to give back to the community. It's a big organization. The stylists like to give back," she said.

Cold Stone Creamery partners with Roswell Park to encourage students to participate. The student who raises the most pledges gets a free ice cream party for six; other winners receive cakes and ice cream.

Principal JoAnn Balazs said the school put on a community blood drive last December to benefit Carly's Club for Kids and Cancer Research, Roswell Park's support organization for children with cancer and their families.

"We did the blood drive to raise awareness about the importance of blood transfusions for cancer patients. We value our partnership with Roswell Park. Unfortunately, so many of our Amherst families have been affected by cancer," said Balazs.

Valenti, the Red Cross Club advisor, said Hannon asked the organizers of the blood drive if they would like to host a Goin' Bald for Bucks day. Valenti, Kelly Nunn, the Student Council advisor, and Gordon Crock, the Students for Activism advisor, liked the idea, and planned the event.

Valenti hopes the school will do the program again.

"I like helping Roswell. They're my charity of choice," she said.