NORWICH – Since its creation in 2004, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised more than $100 million nationwide in support of childhood cancer research, with an estimated 144,000 people having participated in the yearly event and proving that bald truly can be beautiful, especially when it’s for a good cause.
Locally, the Norwich St. Baldrick’s volunteers have raised approximately $164,000 since 2005, even as they prepare to go under the clippers once again on March 16 at the Park Place Restaurant and Lounge, 7 East Park Place.
City of Norwich Emergency Management Officer A. Wesley Jones, who has replaced Norwich Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo as the event’s coordinator, said he and his fellow shavees are hoping to bring some new ideas to the table and turn the popular, one-day event into a year-long fundraising effort.
“Obviously, the fundraising goes on for months leading up to St. Baldrick’s,” noted Jones, “but we’re trying to get people a little more involved throughout the year.”
As such, Jones said organizers have proposed a 5K run, although it was too late this year to get it off the ground; and a Firefighter Challenge, which would award one area fire department “bragging rights” for the year as the firefighting team to raise the most money. Organizers are also encouraging local businesses and other groups to get involved as well, added Jones, through a “Casual to Conquer” initiative.
“Many places have ‘Casual Fridays’ or some offshoot of that and many are willing to raise money for a foundation like St. Baldrick’s,” said Jones. “We’re reaching out to local companies and trying to get them involved.”
The premise is simple, he added. If an employee would like to participate in whatever Casual Friday-type boon their employer decides upon, they may do so once they’ve donated to St. Baldrick’s.
According to Jones, the local St. Baldrick’s already has 17 people signed up for 2013 – six of whom are women – thanks to an early start online and a new Facebook page, facebook.com/NorwichStBaldricks.
“We’ve been adding shavees daily over the past week and a half and we always seem to have a good turnout,” he added. “But we have opened up the event a little bit this year, a little earlier, and it’s the next few weeks that people typically get on board.”
The Norwich St. Baldrick’s event page is live as well, stbaldricks.org/events/norwich, and those interested are urged to register now for the event. As for those who have already registered and are out hitting the pavement for donations, Jones says thank you.
“It may seem like it’s far away, but we’re less than two months out,” he added.
Jones also wished to thank the Cirello family, owners of Park Place, for hosting the event once again, as well as BOCES Cosmetology students, who have performed the head shaving for a number of years, stating, “They are both just so supportive of this.”
And while Chief Chawgo may be stepping down as the event’s coordinator, he and fellow firefighter Jeff Steward will team-up once again as Masters of Ceremony. Said Jones, “Even if you aren’t getting shaved, come out for some good entertainment.”
Most years, the Norwich St. Baldrick’s exceeds its $10,000 goal, bringing in approximately $40,000 its best year. Jones, who partners with his son, Tyler, for the annual event, said the pair typically raise $3,000 or more (nearly $4,500 last year). In 2012, the two unveiled their very own means of persuading potential donors with a sweet tooth, Cookies For A Cure.
“Anytime someone donates $50 or more to Team Tyler, we make them a dozen of my ‘semi-famous’ chocolate chip cookies,” laughed Jones. “It worked really well for us last year ... I made a lot of cookies.”
As in the past, organizers are still seeking donations for the event’s raffle and Chinese Auction. For more information contact Jones at 336-2800 or via e-mail at dispatcher307@yahoo.com.