'Conquer Kids' Cancer.' St. Baldrick's returns to live fundraising in Jackson Township

JACKSON TWP. ‒ With a full white beard and lengthy hair, Randy Geib looked a little like Santa Claus when took a seat on the hair-cutting stage.

A few minutes later, Geib was bald as he joined others Sunday afternoon to help the local St. Baldrick's Foundation with its head-shaving fundraiser to generate money for research to find cures for childhood cancer.

After leaving the barber chair, Geib, 71, of Plain Township, said he felt "ready to put a hat on before I go outside. We had fun with it."

More:Hair today, gone tomorrow. Stark County's St. Baldrick's shaving fundraiser continues

The event, held in the North Canton Racquet Club in the 6300 block of Promway Avenue NW, marked the live return of the local St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraising project.

What does St. Baldrick's do?

"We had an online event for two years because of the COVID (pandemic)," said Nan Foltz, one of the event organizers. "Truthfully, we have a very good community. They did support us the past two years. I think we will do better this year. Our goal is $250,000. But ... I think we will go over our goal."

As of early Sunday afternoon, the local event had generated $238,524. Participants take pledges prior to event and then show up to honor those pledges by having their heads shaved on one of 12 hair-cutting stations on the stage of the gymnasium floor.

These type of community fundraising events are critical for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, according to Joanne Avelar, public relations officer for the national St. Baldrick's Foundation office.

"We are the largest charity funder for childhood cancer research," Avelar said. "We are completely volunteer driven. To date, we have invested $326 million into childhood cancer grants."

St. Baldrick's Foundation, based in the Los Angeles-area community of Monrovia, California, is a nonprofit organization with a mission of raising money to devote to finding a cures for children afflicted with cancer. The organization started in 1999. The shaving of the head is a symbol of identifying with children ill with cancer who frequently lose their hair during treatment.

Along with individual participants, the event was supported by donations from four area school systems: North Canton City, Plain Local, Jackson Local and Fairless Local.

Not everyone who participated in the fundraiser agreed to have their head shaved. This year's event included a "do what you want" component where participants used other methods to generate revenue. For instance, there was 11-year-old Hayden Jarvis who sat on stage and played solos on his saxophone.

Other ways to raise money for St. Baldrick's

"I have a saxophone and I know how to play it," said Hayden, a student at Sauder Elementary School at Jackson Local.

He managed to contribute and kept his hair on his head.

"I think he is up to $185," his mother EmmaLee Jarvis said. "Friends and family donated for him to do it."

When the event started, Aidan Wellock, 9, was recognized for being the leading individual fundraiser. A student at Sauder Elementary School in Jackson, Wellock produced $6,100 for the cause. He was joined by his parents, Austin and Angeline Wellock.

"Angeline had the idea of teaching him what kids go through with cancer treatment," Austin Wellock said. "His school is doing a fundraiser. He was motivated."

Many of the volunteers at the event wore gray T-shirts with the message "Conquer Kids' Cancer" spelled out.

Just as in previous years, a crew from Quaker Steak & Lube was on hand to serve refreshments as a part of the fundraising effort.

"We give 20% of sales here plus at the restaurant," said Bob DeBois, vice president of Quaker Steak & Lube. "This a great cause."

This article originally appeared on The Repository: St. Baldrick's Foundation held its fundraising shaving event