St. Baldrick's Day in Naperville, Aurora benefits cancer research
While Nick Zager has seen his brother Scott with a shaved head for swim meets, it hasn't been his own hairstyle of choice.
That is until this weekend, when he will cut his locks in memory of his younger sibling during a St. Baldrick's event in Naperville to raise money for childhood cancer research.
Scott was only 19 and a sophomore at Brown University when he died last May after a six-month battle with testicular cancer.
"It just hit home with me," Nick said of the fundraiser. "I decided to go with it and got a great response from my family, friends and co-workers, so it's been a good experience."
Naperville and Aurora are among numerous communities holding shave-athons for the nonprofit St. Baldrick's Foundation.
Zager already has banked more than $4,000 for the cause and will be one of at least 106 shavees going under the razor during Naperville's fifth annual event from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd.
In addition to head shaving, the fundraiser will feature the McNulty Irish Dancers, a silent auction, raffles, kids activities, music and food donated by area restaurants.
The Naperville group is traditionally led by city police and firefighters but has expanded to include volunteers from all walks of life. It raised $120,000 last year and is aiming for at least $75,000 this time around.
Naperville police Sgt. Tim Jordan, who co-organizes the event, said he is troubled by the statistics that show roughly 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year, about 12,500 in the U.S. alone.
"It's kind of hard not to think about someone you know or your own child perhaps getting stricken and being uncertain if there is a cure for a particular strain or type of cancer that is diagnosed," he said.
He has been overwhelmed by the support the community has shown and said that as a police officer, it's nice to see people at their best.
Likewise, the fundraiser is also a chance for residents to see police officers at their best, says Aurora investigator Dave Adams, who is running the city's third annual event.
It goes from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at Mike and Denise's Pizzeria and Pub, 1760 N. Farnsworth Ave., and will include raffles and head shaving. This year's goal is to raise $25,000 to top last year's $22,000.
At least 44 people have signed up for the shave-athon including more than 20 police officers from Aurora and surrounding communities and Kane County Sheriff Pat Perez.
"The first time is really daunting because your hair is such a personal part of you, and I think guys especially worry about losing their hair anyway, so it can be tough talking somebody into doing it the first time - but the cause is completely worth it," said Adams, whose 6-year-old stepson will have the honor of being his barber.
Females with at least 10 inches of hair they would like to donate to Locks of Love also can do so at the Aurora event with no fundraising or registration necessary. The organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss.
For information about these and other St. Baldrick's events or to make a donation, visit stbaldricks.org.
<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go</p> <p class="News">St. Baldrick's Foundation events to raise money to fight childhood cancer are scheduled this month in Naperville and Aurora, among other locations.</p> <p class="breakhead">Naperville</p> <p class="News">When: 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 7</p> <p class="News">Where: Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd.</p> <p class="News">Info: (630) 548-2992 or <a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org" target="new">stbaldricks.org</a></p> <p class="breakhead">Aurora</p> <p class="News">When: 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 15</p> <p class="News">Where: Mike and Denise's Pizzeria and Pub, 1760 N. Farnsworth Ave.</p> <p class="News">Info: (815) 467-1706 or <a href="http://www.stbaldricks.org" target="new">stbaldricks.org</a></p>