Centre and local community going bald for children's cancer research

RELEASED: March 8, 2007

DANVILLE, KY—One person's brother died from cancer. Another individual's sister recently beat the disease. Everyone gathering next Thursday on Centre College's campus in Danville will have a different story to tell, but they all will share one common goal: raising money for children's cancer research. And for this event, participants are going to extremes: around 40 Centre students, staff, faculty and Danville community members are shaving their heads in front of all who care to watch.

On Thursday, March 15, on the lawn in front of Cowan Dining Hall, the Centre and Danville community will celebrate St. Baldrick's Day, a worldwide fundraising program. St. Baldrick's began as a casual conversation between friends and has exploded into the world's biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer. Events have taken place in 10 countries and 42 states, raising over $20 million since 2000 and shaving more than 26,000 heads.

Shavees can register the day of the event beginning at 11:15 a.m. with a minimum donation of $15. Shaving will begin outside of Cowan Dining Hall at 11:45 a.m. Centre president John Roush will give the opening remarks before volunteers from the local Genesis Hair Salon begin shaving heads. Several other local businesses are pitching in to help by donating free food and coffee for everyone and special giveaways to those volunteering to shave their heads.

Derrick Grant '08, in conjunction with fellow members of the Centre Catholic Community, is student coordinator of the event and has been working since October to organize the activities. His involvement in St. Baldrick's day is personal.

"My grandfather died from cancer two weeks after I came to Centre as a freshman," Grant says. "Then my grandmother had cancer. No child should ever have to endure that."

And it is for children with cancer that Grant has gathered a group of Centre student organizations, local businesses and community members to organize a fundraiser that Grant hopes will help Centre reach its goal of raising $5.000 for children's cancer research.

Regarding the $5,000 goal, Grant says, "We're going to go way over it."

Dr. Melanie Hauser, Centre visiting assistant professor of chemistry, has agreed to shave her head for the cause.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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