St. Baldrick’s creates shear shenanigans while supporting young cancer warriors

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, it is time to get ready for the annual St. Baldrick's Brave the Shave. Join the fight against childhood cancer by shaving your head to stand in solidarity with young cancer warriors while raising money for cancer research.

Each year, the local Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance partners with the St. Baldrick's Foundation and Supercuts to raise money to support national pediatric cancer research, including local efforts at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year's "Brave the Shave" takes place on Saturday, March 14, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at Westfield Galleria, 1151 Galleria Blvd, Roseville.

To form a team or donate, go to the Sacramento St. Baldrick's event webpage. You can also sign up online to join the UC Davis Health Brave the Shave team.

"Bald is beautiful when you are raising money to fight childhood cancer," said Jessica Alonso, executive director of Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance. "Register your team now so you can have fun at our Brave the Shave events, knowing that every dollar raised helps fund lifesaving research."

The first St. Baldrick's head-shaving event began on St. Patrick's Day 2000 as a challenge between three friends at a New York City bar. It has since grown into the world's largest charity funder of childhood cancer research. The name St. Baldrick's is a combination of the words "bald" and "St. Patrick's."

Local fundraising benefits pediatric cancer research at UC Davis

"This is a great example of how Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center are working together to improve the quality of care for children with cancer, ensuring they receive top-tier treatment close to home," said Marcio Malogolowkin, chief of pediatric hematology-oncology at UC Davis Health.

According to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, every two minutes a family learns the devastating news that their child has cancer. One in 263 children in the United States will receive a cancer diagnosis before turning 20 years old. While survival rates have improved due to research, for some children, there is still little hope for a cure.

"It is critical that we continue funding cancer research close to home," said Alonso. "This is why we are proud to contribute to the groundbreaking research at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center."