Norwich St. Baldrick’s names new event organizer
New Norwich St. Baldrick’s Event Organizer Jamie Burchill stands with old event organizer and 12 year St. Baldrick’s volunteer A Wesley Jones following her transition into her new role. (Submitted photo)
NORWICH – Norwich St. Baldrick’s recently announced the appointment of Jamie Burchill of New Berlin as the new volunteer event organizer. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a not-for-profit organization raising funds to help find cures for children with cancers.
Burchill is a seven-year volunteer with the organization. She started in 2015 as a “shavee,” raising over $6,700, making her the largest individual fundraiser in the event’s history.
Burchill takes over for long-time volunteer and shavee, A. Wesley Jones, who is stepping down after 12 years with the organization, the last nine as event organizer.
“I’m excited and honored to be handed this torch. Since joining this fundraiser in 2015, it has become such a huge part of my life,” said Burchill. “I just love the concept behind it - people sacrificing their vanity to help end an atrocity like childhood cancer.”
The local event is one of the top five annual fundraisers in Chenango County, raising over $30,000 annually and over $370,000 since the event started locally in 2005. Hundreds of head shaving events are held across the country and around the world, but Norwich remains one of the first 50 events started the year the St. Baldrick’s organization was incorporated.
Despite a global pandemic and having to hold a virtual fundraiser, this year’s St. Baldrick’s event in Norwich raised a record-breaking $38,168.
“It has been an honor to be a supporter of St. Baldrick’s from the beginning and to have volunteered for the past 12 years,” said Jones. “I’m especially proud of my son, Tyler, who got me to be a shavee starting in 2005. Since that time, Team Tyler has raised over $66,000 at our local events.”
The appointment of Burchill was confirmed by the Norwich St. Baldrick’s Planning Committee, consisting of volunteers, Pete and Deb DeVinne, Zach and Julie Wentworth and Briana Phelps.
“Jamie brings a ton of enthusiasm and new ideas for the continued growth of St. Baldrick’s here in Chenango County,” said Jones. “Along with our amazing committee members, Jamie will continue to lead the organization to new heights.”
Burchill discussed the transition and said Jones was an excellent leader and filling his role will be no easy task.
“I have some big shoes to fill. It seems almost inconceivable that this chapter of St. Baldricks could even function without (Jones),” she said. “But I will make him proud.”
“Failure is not something that I do well.”
Burchill said every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and in the U.S. one in five kids diagnosed won’t survive. She said those who do survive often suffer long-term effects from treatments too harsh for their developing bodies.
Volunteers, sponsored by family, friends, and employers, shave their heads to stand in solidarity with children who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment and in doing so, raise funds for childhood cancer research.
“From its beginnings, St. Baldrick’s has believed that kids deserve the chance to be kids – fun-loving, carefree, refreshingly honest, and always a little goofy – and deserve the chance at a healthy future,” said Burchill. “That’s why St. Baldrick’s is dedicated to funding the best childhood cancer research, wherever it takes place.”
“Donations raised at events like this have made it possible for St. Baldrick’s to fund more than $305 million, making it the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.”
By Zachary Meseck, Sun Staff Writer
Burchill is a seven-year volunteer with the organization. She started in 2015 as a “shavee,” raising over $6,700, making her the largest individual fundraiser in the event’s history.
Burchill takes over for long-time volunteer and shavee, A. Wesley Jones, who is stepping down after 12 years with the organization, the last nine as event organizer.
“I’m excited and honored to be handed this torch. Since joining this fundraiser in 2015, it has become such a huge part of my life,” said Burchill. “I just love the concept behind it - people sacrificing their vanity to help end an atrocity like childhood cancer.”
The local event is one of the top five annual fundraisers in Chenango County, raising over $30,000 annually and over $370,000 since the event started locally in 2005. Hundreds of head shaving events are held across the country and around the world, but Norwich remains one of the first 50 events started the year the St. Baldrick’s organization was incorporated.
Despite a global pandemic and having to hold a virtual fundraiser, this year’s St. Baldrick’s event in Norwich raised a record-breaking $38,168.
“It has been an honor to be a supporter of St. Baldrick’s from the beginning and to have volunteered for the past 12 years,” said Jones. “I’m especially proud of my son, Tyler, who got me to be a shavee starting in 2005. Since that time, Team Tyler has raised over $66,000 at our local events.”
The appointment of Burchill was confirmed by the Norwich St. Baldrick’s Planning Committee, consisting of volunteers, Pete and Deb DeVinne, Zach and Julie Wentworth and Briana Phelps.
“Jamie brings a ton of enthusiasm and new ideas for the continued growth of St. Baldrick’s here in Chenango County,” said Jones. “Along with our amazing committee members, Jamie will continue to lead the organization to new heights.”
Burchill discussed the transition and said Jones was an excellent leader and filling his role will be no easy task.
“I have some big shoes to fill. It seems almost inconceivable that this chapter of St. Baldricks could even function without (Jones),” she said. “But I will make him proud.”
“Failure is not something that I do well.”
Burchill said every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer worldwide, and in the U.S. one in five kids diagnosed won’t survive. She said those who do survive often suffer long-term effects from treatments too harsh for their developing bodies.
Volunteers, sponsored by family, friends, and employers, shave their heads to stand in solidarity with children who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment and in doing so, raise funds for childhood cancer research.
“From its beginnings, St. Baldrick’s has believed that kids deserve the chance to be kids – fun-loving, carefree, refreshingly honest, and always a little goofy – and deserve the chance at a healthy future,” said Burchill. “That’s why St. Baldrick’s is dedicated to funding the best childhood cancer research, wherever it takes place.”
“Donations raised at events like this have made it possible for St. Baldrick’s to fund more than $305 million, making it the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.”
By Zachary Meseck, Sun Staff Writer
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