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St. Baldrick’s Foundation shaves heads in Byron Center

Posted at 7:04 AM, Mar 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-24 20:56:57-04

BYRON CENTER, Mich ---  People from across West Michigan gathered at 84th St. Pub & Grill in Byron Center to shave their heads! The fresh shave is all for the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Hair covered the floors of the 84th St Puc & Grille after more than 100 West Michiganders donned the signature freen St. Baldrick's smock to Brave the Shave for childhood cancer research.

Organizers had plenty for non-shave-ees to do during the event, raffling off 60 items and a silent auction with around a 100 items up for bid. Former Detroit pitcher Dave Rozema even stopped by to support the event.

"Typically we raise about $30,000, day of event," Pat Schrager, the Volunteer Event Organizer for St. Baldrick's Foundation tells FOX 17's Sarah Grimmer.

Though the official ticker says just over $70,000 has been raised in Byron Center, organizers updated our Sarah Grimmer: the expected number will fall between $90,000 and $100,000, but say it will take a couple of days to calculate the exact number.

"St Baldrick's is the largest donor to cancer research outside of the federal government. They donate somewhere between 25 and 35 million dollars a year for childhood cancer research," says Schrager. "It goes for cancer research."

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

"These funds are very very important," says Mary Curston, the Clinical research Coordinator for Helen Devos Children's Hospital. "Because to do clinical research you have to start in the lab with cell lines, with some basic science, and it’s very expensive."

More information on how to get involved with St. Baldrick's can be found here.