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Schaumburg High School proves bald is beautiful at St. Baldrick's event

Schaumburg High School was buzzing with school spirit as many of its own shaved their heads during a pep assembly to raise awareness and funds for children's cancer research.

The school hosted its third St. Baldrick's shaving event on March 14 and has raised $102,390.84 to benefit the St. Baldrick's Foundation. Community members can still donate to S.H.S.'s event to keep it in the running to win the largest high school total raised by March 31.

The St. Baldrick's event started at Schaumburg High School in 2010, after graduate John Knudson, a student who battled cancer since the age of 13 and is currently in remission, became involved in the organization and helped start the first event at the school.

"Four years ago we started St. Baldrick's in our school because one of our own had just learned his cancer returned," said Ginger Haas, social worker and St. Baldrick's event coordinator at Schaumburg High School. "A joy that comes from these events is seeing our Schaumburg High School community come together for one common purpose - to help others. We get life lessons from all different sources and it is an honor to be able to help our student body learn one through an event like this. We want to thank our community for supporting our students and staff with their fundraising efforts."

Students needed to raise $25 in order to participate and have their head shaved during their lunch hour. Those that raised $1,000 or more had their head shaved in front of the entire student body during an all-school assembly.

There were other ways to participate, as well. Students with long ponytails had their hair cut off and donated to Kids with Hair Loss to be made into wigs. And students and staff could buy green hair extensions to be added to their hair for support.

This year, four people were "honored kids" at the assembly, including John Knudson. Others were the 16-month-old brother of a Schaumburg freshman, who has been diagnosed with cancer, a boy born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with leukemia at age 3, and a 5-year-old named Harlow who is still undergoing treatments.

The event "touched the hearts of everyone at our assembly," Haas said. "We want Schaumburg families who are dealing with pediatric cancer to know our big high school supports them."

Donations can be made at www.stbaldricks.org/events/SHS2014.

Schaumburg High School student and staff participants in the St. Baldrick's event gather after they had their heads shaved or their hair cut. Courtesy of District 211

St. Baldrick's events

'Tis the season for St. Baldrick's events. Here are a few of the ones happening this weekend in the Northwest suburbs.

• Buffalo Grove High School, noon Friday, which has raised more than $10,000 with more than 24 participants.

• Elk Grove High School, 2:30 p.m. Friday, which has raised more than $12,000 with more than 60 participants.

• Prospect Heights, 2 p.m. Saturday at H.O.M.E. bar, 1227 N. Rand Road, organized by Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Local 4224 and Wheeling Local 3079 firefighters, which have raised more than $198,000 in five years. New Wheeling trustee Mary Krueger will let her personal hairdresser of 25 years cut her hair.

• Hoffman Estates, 11 a.m. Sunday at Rue 62 Salon/1st Place Sports Bar & Grill, 1734 W. Algonquin Road.

For information on other St. Baldrick's events, go to <a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org/">stbaldricks.org</a>.

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