Going bald on St. Baldrick’s to help kids with cancer

A little bit of hair goes a long way, but a lot of hair goes a lot further for children dealing with cancer and fighting not only for their life, but for a sense of normalcy.

In 1999 on St. Patrick’s Day, in an effort to give back to their community, three good samaritans, Tim Kenny, John Bender and Enda McDonnell invented St. Baldrick’s Day to support children coping with cancer. They collected pledges in exchange for shaving their heads on March 15, honoring those who lose their hair during chemotherapy. Now in its ninth year, St. Baldrick’s Day has raised more than $34 million for research on childhood cancer, and more than 46,000 heads have been shaved.

Locally, Dunwoody residents Donal and Karen Flemming organize the fundraiser at Fado Irish Pub, 273 Buckhead Ave. The Flemmings found value in the fundraiser because of their daughter, Ciara, who has struggled with cancer since age two.

For more information visit www.StBaldricks.org or call (888) 889-BALD (2253).