St. Baldrick's Event Set for Saturday at St. Agnes

It’s that time of year again! Overgrown heads of hair on people all around town waiting to be shaven at the annual Rockville Centre St. Baldrick’s event on March 23 at 1 p.m. at the St. Agnes Parish Center.

This is the 10th year of the Rockville Centre St. Baldrick’s event. Last year’s event raised nearly $200,000 for the cause.

This year there are more than 100 men, women and boys of all ages registered to shave their heads hoping to raise $300,000 at the Parish Center. Like all St. Baldrick’s events, participants seek pledges for shaving their heads.

As at most St. Baldrick’s events, the RVC event will be welcoming parents of childhood cancer victims and pediatric oncologists to speak during the event and honoring children who survived and those who have lost their battle with cancer.

The St. Agnes Parish Center St. Baldrick’s event is open to everyone. The event follows the RVC St. Patrick’s Day parade this Saturday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is free.

There will be head-shaving, live music by A Witch’s Brew Band, hot food, cash bar, children’s activities, raffles and St. Baldrick’s merchandise for sale. All proceeds of the event go directly to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

The event will also be hosting a bake sale specifically benefiting the family of Dougie Gonzalez, a South Side Middle School student, battling cancer. A St. Baldrick’s “Doug Strong” shavee fundraising team, open to all shavees, will be shaving in honor of their pal, Dougie.

Many local food establishments and businesses donate food and beverages each year. Several local residents and businesses have graciously donated items and Broadway show tickets as raffle prizes as well.

Long-time sponsor and generous supporter, the George Martin Group, will be setting up cash bars at the event as well as supplying hot food, along with other long-time large food donors: Gino’s Pizzeria, NY Ravioli, Coach Realtors and several other localities.

The St. Baldrick’s RVC committee invites any shavees, volunteers and/or supporters to march in Saturday’s parade with RVC St. Baldrick’s. Contact one of the co-chairs for parade lineup details.

For more information on the RVC event contact Alanna Bender at (516) 697-6383 or benderalanna@gmail.com, Dan Schaefer at danielschaefer@gmail.com or John LaCava at john.lacava@aranins.com.

It is not too late to preregister as a shavee and collect pledges. Contact Dan or John L or go to www.StBaldricks.org website/St. Agnes Parish Center Event to register as a shavee. To save wait time at the event, shavees are highly encouraged to preregister. Come on down and help conquer kids’ cancer!

The event is one of hundreds of events around the world happening all year long, where people shave their heads in solidarity to raise awareness and to raise funds for life-saving pediatric cancer research. To date the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised more than $161 million since 2000.