By Richard RoBards, publisher
Bald is beautiful. Beautiful might be debatable, but there is beauty when baldness can assist in finding a cure for children's cancer.
CU to host first St. Baldrick's eventCampbellsville University is teaming with the St. Baldrick's Foundation to host the first St. Baldrick event, scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at the university from noon to 2 p.m. in the Powell Athletic Center.
The mission of St. Baldrick is “to raise awareness and funds to cure kids' cancer by supporting cancer research and fellowships,” according to the group's Web site, www.stbaldricks.org. If you go to the Web site, click on the link that says “events,” hit venue and type in Campbellsville, Ky.
Donna Wise, who teaches at CU and has an 11-month-old grandson, Carter, who is winding up the last of his treatments after a 4-month battle with cancer, is chairing the community's first event.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation started in 1999 when three friends wanted to find a way to help others, according to the group's Web site. They recruited 17 friends to have their heads shaved with a goal of raising $1,000 apiece.
Wise has a similar goal - setting her sights on a $20,000 target.
Other children in the area are also fighting cancer. Brook Johnson of Greensburg, the 20-month-old daughter of Brian and Missy Johnson, was found to have a mass on her brain in July 2007. She is receiving treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
“Our community has been extremely supportive of Relay for Life, and St. Baldrick's ‘Shaving the Way to Conquer Kid's Cancer' targets fundraising efforts to support cancer research for children,” Wise said. “Anyone interested can go to their Web site and donate. We need groups or individuals interested in raising funds as a barber or as a shavee.”
Wise said the goal is to have at least 25 shavees, the first of whom is her husband, George. Other early entries are Drs. Jimmy Ewing and James Watkins, John Bertram, Richard RoBards, Jody Graham, Harvey Dicken and Sarge Pollock.
Some participants, like Ewing and RoBards, have placed a minimum contribution level of $1,000 on the teams assisting them.
Stylists are being recruited to serve as shavers with April Higdon of Salon 434 one of the first to volunteer.
Higdon's aunt, Wendy Benningfield, teaches with Max Wise (Carter's father) at the university and gave her a call.
“It's for a good cause,” Higdon said. “I couldn't turn them down.”
St. Baldrick also accepts old cell phones and used ink jet printer cartridges. There will be a box at the event for those who wish to donate these items.
Several items will be available in a silent auction on the day of the St. Baldrick's “Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids' Cancer” event.
The items are: two fluted column/pedestal, Cox Interior; two Webkinz baskets (one with 12 animals, the other with more than 13), Friends of St. Baldrick's; portable electric UK cooler, Coppock's; two weekday golf passes and golf pullover, Rosewood Country Club; mixing bowl set and towels, Natalie's Gifts; for-men-only basket (Ray Bans, leather flask, luggage tag, money clip and credit card holder, Dr. Leslie Richardson; original painting by Lexington artist Kandace Tatum; fun in the sun basket (Brighton sunglasses, three sun products, beach towel, aromatique lotions), Merle Norman; Gourmet food basket (soups, dips, salsas), Tulip Tree; His & Her spa basket (Bath robes, slippers, teas, chocolates, spa items), Rhonda and Isaac Tatum; flower arrangement, Annetta's; FBI basket (cap, shirt, other items), Lexington and Louisville FBI; crystal chip and dip and towels, Magnolia Alley; gift basket (coffee mugs, $25 certificate, T-shirt, coffees and teas, cookies), Café Bonin; and Gold Canyon candle baskets (two large candles, fresh sprays), Tulip Tree.
Items are displayed in Merle Norman's window on Main Street through Friday.