Clipping for a Cause

Bald is beautiful when raising funds for cancer research

By Jane Jerrard

Cindy Ell, a former firefighter/paramedic in Anne Arundel County, Md., lost her hair to cancer last year.
It wasn’t due to chemotherapy; rather, she volunteered to have her head shaved bald on national television as part of a fundraiser and awareness campaign for the increased cancer risks faced by firefighters and their families. Ell, the president of the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation (FFCF), says, “My family and friends were really shocked, because they knew what my hair has always meant to me. However, my dedication to this cause was greater than my attachment to my hair.”

Plenty of other firefighters feel the same way, as head-shaving fundraisers are sweeping the nation courtesy of an independent charity called St. Baldrick’s.

Cindy Ell dedicated her head shaving to Carter Finger and Codey St. John, both sons of firefighters.
Photo: Barbara Zobian, Candlelighters NYC

Good Cause, Great Idea

St. Baldrick’s offers local organizations a way to raise money for pediatric cancer research with little or no investment: A firehouse, corporation or school can set up an event where volunteers ask for donations in return for shaving their heads—a show of solidarity with young cancer patients who have lost their hair.

Ell believes the St. Baldrick’s events are successful because they’re so unique. Imagine how many firefighters would donate to a good cause if it meant getting to watch their chief get his or her head shaved.

“I think the method St. Baldrick’s approaches with, and the ease they bring, makes it a popular fundraiser,” Ell says.

Ell discovered St. Baldrick’s Web site in 2006 and began conversations with them. “Obviously, our organizations have a similar mission and causes,” she says. “It was a no-brainer for the foundation to officially partner with them. They’ve helped us with the insights they’ve learned as a successful nonprofit, and we’ve been able to increase their fundraising abilities.”

Because St. Baldrick’s has a successful process in place, the FFCF can maximize its own efforts by using their fundraising support. “Our foundation encourages the fire community to hold St. Baldrick’s events,” Ell explains. “We felt this was the best way to help raise money.”

John McKenna, a firefighter who serves on St. Baldrick’s board of directors agrees. “Firefighters are the second highest industry of volunteers,” he says. “That number has increased in the last 3 years, partly due to word of mouth and partly due to Cindy Ell’s work.”

After working with St. Baldrick’s for several months, Ell herself was ready to go under the razor.

Shaving the Way

On March 16, 2007—the day before St. Patrick’s Day—Ell traveled to New York City, where her head was shaved bald on Fox Television’s “The Morning Show with Mike & Juliet.” She shaved to honor two children of her fellow firefighters as well as to raise funds and celebrate the partnership between FFCF and St. Baldrick’s.

“I raised about $1,700, but the attention it brought to the foundation was extremely valuable,” Ell says.

Many other firefighters have given their hair to raise money for St. Baldrick’s, including Robert Chester, a firefighter with Pennsauken (N.J.) Fire Department, who heads his department’s team of organizers. His department holds a St. Baldrick’s event every March in honor of Andrew “Staz” Staszewski, a Collingswood (N.J.) firefighter who was diagnosed with a primarily pediatric form of bone cancer. Although Staz lost his battle with cancer, area firefighters still raise money for his cause.

“In 2007, we raised around $6,000. This year, we had about 30 shavees and raised more than $25,000,” Chester says. “This has evolved for the whole township.”

Rick St. John, a firefighter at the Neffs (Ohio) Fire Department, was shaved in St. Baldrick’s fundraisers even before his son Codey was diagnosed with a cancer called neuroblastoma in March 2006.

“Little did I know I’d be involved personally,” he says while watching Codey play football today. “But that month he was diagnosed, 25 guys here got their heads shaved.” St. John understands firsthand the importance of these events: “St. Baldrick’s is strictly for the children,” he says. “These kids need an advocate; they need money for research. This shows support—you shave your head to look like them, as well as raise some money for their cause. It’s a great concept.”

Plus, he adds, “Where else can you go and drink beer, shave your head and have fun?”

For More Information
You can learn more about the FFCF at www.ffcancer.org. Details about St. Baldrick’s, including information on how to host a fundraiser and a chance to donate, are available at www.stbaldricks.org.