Charity breaks out the clippers for childhood cancer research

SALISBURY — The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, will host one of its signature head-shaving events in Salisbury.

At 10 a.m. March 17 at Tilley Harley-Davidson, 635 Bendix Dr., several people will shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer and raise money for life-saving children’s cancer research.

Why all the shaved heads?

Worldwide, more than 160,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it remains the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. With only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, St. Baldrick’s Foundation grant funds continue the battle against this disease.

Leila Cougenhour Fairies of Cut Up & Dye Funky Salon in Salisbury will serve as guest barber for the event. Volunteers are needed to run bake sale and silent auction tables.

Organizers challenge others to shave their heads. To sign up as a shavee, visit www.stbaldricks.org/ events/mypage/8339/2012 .

They also ask local businesses to help by participating in the Lucky Charms fundraiser, where customers purchase a lucky charm to display at the business in honor of their donation.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. The foundation funds more childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

Since its inception as an independent charity in 2005, the foundation has funded more than $78 million in childhood cancer research.