Taking it off the top to benefit cancer research

Firefighters, police officers and other volunteers from Lake and McHenry counties took more than a little off the top Sunday for the "Taking It All Off for Cancer Research" event at the Fox Lake Volunteer Fire Department Bingo Hall in Ingleside.

The volunteers raised thousands of dollars for childhood cancer research by having their heads shaved at the annual St. Baldrick's event. The group included young children and grown men who smiled as they sat in the chair, then frowned as they watched their hair fall away at the hands of volunteer hair stylists, many of them from Shear Genius of Grayslake.

Among the volunteers was Jim McClure of Grayslake, who's participated in seven St. Baldrick's events.

"I had a sister pass away in (1959) with a Wilms' tumor, a form of kidney cancer," McClure said as he waited to have his gray locks cut. "Back then there was a 5 percent survival rate. Today it is 95 percent. For me, it's pretty easy to do. I haven't cut my hair since Halloween."

McClure hoped to raise more than $7,000 thanks to matching funds from his company, Anixter of Glenview. Last year's effort raised $20,000, with 70 people getting a shave, figures organizers hoped to surpass by the time the last hair was clipped Sunday. St. Baldrick's events have raised more than $50 million for cancer research since the first event in 2000. For more information about St. Baldrick's visit www.stbaldricks.org.