Soldiers Sport Their Scalps on St. Baldrick’s Day
June 2, 2008
Dallas, Texas (WiredPRNews.com) — In 1999, two men were challenged by their friend to give back to the community. So they decided to shear their manes in support of children with cancer on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation was born. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the largest cancer fund raising organization in the world and was started by a group of friends urging each other to serve the public in an extraordinary way. When the organization had their first event in 2000, the three friends expected to raise $17,000 and instead rose over $104,000. Today, the organization has rose over $34 million and shaved over 46,000 heads young, old and ready to sport their scalp.
Maj. Stephen Roberts a pediatric oncologist at Walter Reed Army Medical Center of Washington could not resist the desire to help. Roberts works with children diagnosed with cancer everyday and explains that he is amazed by how well the children brace themselves with grace and strength while they endure so much. Since Roberts deployed to Iraq this year, he missed the annual St. Baldrick’s Day event at home but that didn’t stop him from helping. This year, Roberts set up a Baldrick’s event on the base. Many soldiers volunteered to shave their heads in support. Female soldiers however, were not permitted to shave their heads because of army regulations but many donated to the cause to help.
The founders of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Major Stephen Roberts and all others who volunteered to shave their heads and those who have donated to the cause have served as agents to the public. Their heart-felt support has helped in a big way. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has held events for the past eight years and they’re not going anywhere as long as millions of children continue to suffer from cancer.
For more information on Maj. Stephen Robert’s effort and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation visit the following links:
Soldiers shave heads to support cancer kids
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/05/19/cancer.soldiers.baldricks/index.html
St. Baldrick’s Foundation
http://www.stbaldricks.org/about_us/index.html
Staff Reporter
