Huntley comes together to support St. Baldrick's event

More children in the United States die of childhood cancer than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined. More than 175,000 kids are diagnosed each year. These numbers are staggering and sad at the same time.

In Huntley, a very special young lady's parents decided to help do something about it. Bryant and Carly Haniszewski are the parents of Teagan, who has been battling cancer for eight years. The Haniszewski family has been to hell and back, but you wouldn't know it. They are driven to not only make sure that Teagan is given every possible opportunity she needs, but also to help other families not go through what they have.

In October 2014, they began thinking that Huntley should host a St. Baldrick's event. What is St. Baldrick's? Volunteers raise money to shave their heads, with the proceeds going to help research and children with cancer. The wheels started turning and the 2015 "Huntley Goes Bald" event was underway.

According to Carly, "we were hoping to raise $5,000." They were able to do a little better than that last year as the Huntley community helped raise more than $43,000. It was a two-day event filled with emotion and kindheartedness, both at Huntley High School and Parkside Pub.

What could be done as an encore? More donations, more shavees, more shavers, more music and more stories was the goal. Now the Huntley community knew what this St. Baldrick's thing was all about. The hair growth started earlier, the social media was in full-force, and the razors were sharp.

Everything was lined up for a bigger and better event.

On March 18-19, "The Duchess" and I from the Huntley Community Radio show "2 Dudes and the Duchess" had a front-row seat to see how loving and caring a community could be. If you have ever participated in a 5K for a cause, you know how gratifying it can be.

But you have never experienced anything until you see an 18-month-old boy who is in remission and his family all cutting hair at the same time, or a young high schoolgirl with hair down to the small of her back so moved she decided to get shaved on the spot.

Two of hundreds of great stories. And the result? This event generated more than $100,000 for this unbelievable cause.

Thank you to all of the volunteers, to all of the shavees, to the shavers, to the musicians, to the donors and, most of all, to the children.