Dozens go bald to honor Carol Stream boy's cancer fight
Bald certainly was beautiful Sunday inside Evergreen Elementary School in Carol Stream as dozens of people — men, women and children — had their heads shaved to raise money for the fight against pediatric cancer.
The event was inspired by Evergreen second-grader Jack O'Donoghue, who's battling Burkitt's lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin's cancer of the lymphatic system. The money raised will go to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding cancer research.
“We wanted to do this to raise awareness, not just about Jack and his family, but about the need for children's cancer research in general,” said Gina Heimbecker, a Carol Stream resident who helped organize the event.
Future fundraisers specifically for the O'Donoghue family are in the works, Heimbecker added.
Jack, who has completed two rounds of chemotherapy, was at Sunday's event, smiling and talking with friends. When the head-shaving began, he assisted with the shaving of his godfather, Steve Bisbikis.
“This is overwhelming,” said Jack's mother, Dana O'Donoghue. “The support we've gotten from the community is just unbelievable.”
Dana said her son was diagnosed with the disease in late January. Jack came through the chemotherapy treatments very well, she said.
“He's actually feeling really good, which is wonderful for us to see,” she added.
On Sunday evening, the St. Baldrick's website, stbaldricks.org, reported that 53 people had their heads shaved Sunday and that more than $10,500 was raised. The initial goal was $5,000.
Laurie Evans of Elmhurst, who arrived at the event with long hair, was one of Sunday's “shavees.” She said she participated because her young nephew died after a battle with cancer.
“It feels great,” she said, rubbing her freshly shorn head. “It's instant air conditioning.”
Evergreen third-grader Andrew LaPlant, 8,also signed up to be a shavee. He made the decision after hearing about Jack O'Donoghue's diagnosis.
“I'm a little nervous, but a friend of mine did one of these last year,” he said. His mother, Cynthya, said her son brought up the idea to her and her husband.
“We hadn't said anything about it,” she said. “I'm so proud of him.”