Grayslake students shave their heads for charity

Grayslake Middle School students and faculty shaved their heads to benefit childhood cancer research Friday during the third annual Community Cut & Shave fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Seventh-grader Hunter Pruitt was the first to get the new look.

"Everyone else gets to see and get inspired," Pruitt said of being first.

More than 700 people attended the morning assembly when more than 50 students and faculty had their heads shaved or their hair cut. Cut strands of hair were donated to "Pantene Beautiful Lengths."

Five stylists from Legacy Salon Spa in Round Lake Beach were on hand to do the work.

"The third year has been the most fun because we are getting more of our community involved," Principal Marcus Smith said.

Smith hopes students can see the good that can happen from their efforts when they put their minds to something.

The middle school raised close to $15,000 in 2015. At the start of the event Friday, the school had already reached the goal of $20,000 and hoped to add to that amount as they day progressed. The event was open to the public to participate from 1 to 7 p.m.

According to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, more children in the U.S. die of childhood cancer than any other disease - more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined. Yet, all types of childhood cancers combined receive only 4 percent of the U.S. federal funding for cancer research, the group said.

To donate money to the cause, go to: www.stbaldricks.org/events/gmsmakeyourmark2016

For information about St. Baldrick's, visit stbaldricks.org.