Head shaving event in Libertyville raises funds for childhood cancer research
Before she was wielded the clippers to kick off "Rock the Bald" Saturday at Austin's Saloon & Eatery in Libertyville, 11-year old cancer survivor Ashton Sessions shared her story.
Diagnosed with a type of muscle cancer when she was 3, doctors removed a cantaloupe-sized tumor from her stomach and gave her a 10 percent chance of survival.
"Think about that - a cantaloupe inside a 3-year-old body," she told a hushed crowd gathered in the Fuel Room, a venue normally filled with loud, hard-driving live music.
A year of weekly chemotherapy followed.
"The chemo made all of my hair fall out," she said. "I learned that bald is beautiful.
"I want you all to know I beat it," said Sessions, who traveled with her family from Algonquin for the St. Baldrick's Foundation event to raise funds for childhood cancer research. The Libertyville event was one of 30 signature head-shaving events planned this month in the Chicago area.
"Amazing," her dad, Dan, said of her journey. "We like to do a lot of awareness and advocacy efforts. We like to tell our story."
Organizer Jennifer Christensen set a fundraising goal of $90,000 with an expected 40 "shavers" willing to help the cause but acknowledged the numbers may be lower.
Christensen organized the first event in Libertyville 10 years ago after seeing one in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to honor her daughter, Victoria, who had battled a form of cancer near her eye.
"I did it because my daughter is a cancer survivor," Christensen said.
Victoria, who has been cancer-free 13 years, beat the disease with the help of Dr. Mary Lou Schmidt, head of pediatric oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Schmidt also is the principal investigator for UIC/Rush/Stroger hospitals children's oncology clinical trial program, funded in part by St. Baldrick's.
Schmidt said about 85 percent of children diagnosed with cancer survive but research is needed to increase that rate. She accompanied Victoria Christensen onstage.
"My former patient is now taller than me," she said with a smile. "Her family is giving back because they know there are more children to help."
She elaborated offstage, noting Victoria is studying at Illinois State University.
"It is amazing - my patient is in college," she said. "She's graduated from me."
Hundreds attended the event which featured raffles, a DJ, a photo booth and face painting. St. Baldrick's Foundation is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.