Campus community members to shave heads for children with cancer

RELEASED: March 6, 2008

DANVILLE, KY—Following the success of Centre's student-initiated St. Baldrick's Day last year, the community was faced with a huge challenge—what next? The answer: do it again! Already, 47 members of the College community have signed up to have their heads shaved in a public display of solidarity with children who are living with cancer and have suffered hair loss as a side effect to the treatment. Along the way they will collect money from supporters that will go directly to the Children's Oncology Group (COG).

On Thursday, March 13, volunteers will have their heads shaved at an event open to the public from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Combs Student Center. Centre's St. Baldrick's Day campaign will also receive a helping hand this year from the local Baskin Robbins. On Wednesday, March 12 from 6 to 10 p.m., the ice cream store will donate 10 percent of its profits directly to the campaign.

Derrick Grant '08 introduced Centre to the St. Baldrick's campaign last year when he set out to collect $5,000 from student organizations, community members and local businesses. To everyone's surprise, the goal was exceeded by $4,493.

This year, Mike Janok '10 has taken up the cause with the help of a small group of friends that include Nick LeFevre '09, Jay Russel '10 and Evan Kutzler '10. Patrick Noltemeyer, director of volunteer services, also has been an influential part of the process as well as Grant, who guided Janok through the initial steps of setting up the event.

"When I found out Derrick was going abroad and wouldn't be able to bring St. Baldrick's Day back this year, I knew that I had to take it on," says Janok. "I really wanted to continue the event simply because of how much fun it is and how much good it does for everyone involved. I'm hoping that it becomes a tradition here at Centre."

The effort's organizers, who set a goal of $10,000, hope to capitalize on the momentum of last year's turnout. "If all of the current volunteers meet the minimum goals they've set for themselves, we're looking at around $6,000 dollars raised, plus whatever comes in as general donations," says LeFevre, who serves as the campaign's contact person.

Jesse Clark '09 is currently the only woman from the Centre community who has volunteered to be a shavee.

"I guess I don't really feel alone at all in this campaign, even though I'm the only woman participating so far," Clark says. "I have so much support from women and men on campus, in Lexington and in Louisville, that even though I'm the only woman shaving my head, I feel that all these people in my support system are sharing the experience with me."

Clark has pledged to collect $1,000 and is currently halfway there. She says, "There's still a long way to go before I reach my goal, but I think that the excitement of the last week will help bring in more donations."

To donate to Jesse's fund, or make contributions to any of the other participants in Centre's St. Baldrick's Day celebration, click here.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. 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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