Youth baseball team shaves their heads for childhood cancer research

The Lake Villa Eagles 10U travel baseball team recently took on a different team name: the Bald Eagles.

The Eagles participated in a St. Baldrick's Foundation head shaving event Saturday, March 19, at the Fox Lake Volunteer Fire Department in Ingleside.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a not-for-profit group that helps raise funds to find cures for various childhood cancers. Twelve players, two grandfathers and a parent volunteer shaved their heads for the charity event.

The team is part of a feeder program for Lakes Community High School's baseball teams. Team assistant and parent volunteer Joe Partyka said the Bald Eagles were the top team donors. He added donations are still coming in and could hit $16,000.

Total funds raised at the Fox Lake shaving site reached $35,000.

Partyka said that, at this age, character development for the boys is just as important as physical and skills development.

"This project reinforced that, and allowed them to display so many wonderful values such as charity, team building, leadership, kindness, compassion and resilience, just to name a few" Partyka said.

"Adding these types of exercises to their training helps the kids to grow as both individuals and as a team."

During the event, the boys cheered for each other as they were shaved, throwing around high-fives and rubbing bald heads.

The members of the team said they are thankful to the Lake Villa nonprofit Butterfly Effect of Maddox J. LoPriore Foundation, which contributed $1,500 to the team's fundraising total.

An additional $1,500 was given directly to the team by Butterfly Effect for the boys "displaying exceptional character and values in their community."

The money will be used for new cleats and warm sweatshirts for outdoor spring training. Their season opener is April 10.