FGCU shaves for St. Baldrick's Day
MELISSA MONTOYA
MMONTOYA@NEWS-PRESS.COM
As Charlie Parker, an FGCU freshman, dusted the remains of stray hair from his recently shaved head, he pointed toward his cousin for the reason why he went through with the public haircut.
"My cousin," Parker, 19, said. "She had cancer when she was younger."
Parker was one of about 200 who participated in St. Baldrick's Day at the university campus, where students and faculty bring awareness to the plight of children with cancer.
"Children are so vulnerable," said Catherine Gorman, an organizer. "Child cancer research is significantly underfunded."
People volunteering to shave their heads is a great way to sympathize and empathize with the cause, Gorman added.
This is the fourth year Gorman coordinated the event. She started it as a civic engagement project for one of her courses when she was a student. In its first year, she raised about $3,500. This year, the event was on trek to raise more than $10,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, said Gorman, an adjunct composition professor. The number of participants shaving their heads has also grown.
"My favorite part is the day after the event when I see all of the bald heads on campus," Gorman said.
Parker's cousin, 18-year-old Rachel Goldenberg, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphona when she was 15. For six months, she went through chemotherapy and radiation to battle the disease.
"I was very confused but I knew I would be fine," Goldenberg said.
She also lost her hair.
"I wore bandanas," Goldenberg, of West Palm Beach, said.
In addition to getting Parker, to shave his hand, she was responsible for three others.
Goldenberg has a tattoo on her right ankle of a ribbon with the word "survivor" on it.
"I would rather share my experience with others than do nothing," Goldenberg said.
Anyone interested in donating to the organization can go to the St. Baldrick's Foundation website at stbaldricks.org.