April 2, 2018 -- The Cleveland Heights Community Center was abuzz on Sunday, March 25, as more than 200 men, women, boys and girls shaved their heads and donated their hair to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
St. Baldrick's is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research in the world except the U.S. government, and a significant portion of those funds are raised right here in Cleveland.
CH-UH students generously stepped up to brave the shave with teams from Canterbury, Fairfax, Roxboro Elementary, Heights Middle School and Heights High. District parent Krissy Dietrich Gallagher, mother of two-time cancer survivor Austin, started the local event in 2012, which has since raised over $710,000. This was the most successful year yet, at $143,000 and growing.
The money is funneled to St. Baldrick's through the Rebecca Alison Meyer Memorial Fund, in memory of the Fairfax kindergartner who died on her sixth birthday in 2014.
Veteran barber Alex Quintana jokes with the parents of Rox El 4th grader Jude West, mid-shave.
HMS 8th grader Myles Anderson prepares to shave it all off. Heights High freshman Charlie King watches and waits. Photo by Julie Walker
Canterbury 4th grader Sophie Rose Petersal shaves her head for the second year in a row, with the help of Kate League. Photo by Julie Walker
Fairfax 1st grader Joshua Meyer shaves his head in memory of his sister Rebecca. Photo by Julie Walker
Roxboro Elementary 3rd grader Caroline Beard has no regrets about giving up her hair to help children with cancer. Photo by Dallas Schubert
Nine-time shavee Braedan Gallagher inducts friend Joey Minillo into the Knights of the Bald Table, a special honor for seven-time shavees. Both boys are 8th graders at Heights Middle School. Photo by Julie Walker
HMS 7th grader Ruby Tugeau shaves in memory of her grandfather. Photo by Julie Walker
Fairfax 5th grader Austin Gallagher is a veteran shavee with eight years under his belt.