KINGSTON, R.I.–March 11, 2016– More children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease– in fact, more than any other child diseases combined. For the first time the University of Rhode Island’s Student Office of Leadership Consultants will be bringing the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Brave the Shave event to the Kingston campus March 14.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit organization, solely dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for childhood cancer. The organization not only supports various researchers and their efforts to find cures, but it also funds research geared toward improving supportive care for patients. Many children still face debilitating side effects of their treatments even after defeating cancer. Only 4% of U.S. federal funding is solely dedicated to childhood cancer research, and almost zero funding from pharmaceutical companies because childhood cancer drugs are not profitable.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is teaming up with URI student, Ian Kanterman, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering and French, who is a pediatric cancer survivor and URI’s Student Office of Leadership Consultants to host a “hair shaving/donating” event at URI’s Memorial Union Lobby, 50 Lower College Road, Kingston, from noon to 5 p.m., March 14.
“I participated in my first St. Baldrick’s event last March in Boston, where I shaved my hair off in honor of children across the world fighting cancer,” said Kanterman. “ I am a childhood cancer survivor myself and I felt especially connected and driven to bring this event to our campus. With a student population of more than 14,000 here at URI, I knew some kind of connection could be made and a community could come together for this event.”
Participants may shave their head or donate hair or fundraise to help the University reach its goal of raising $15,000. Volunteers can sign up to fundraise as well, or simply donate at the event. To sign up or make a donation please visit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation page. Raise $50 or more and you will receive a St. Baldrick’s shirt to wear proudly for “braving the shave.” If you would like to donate your hair instead of shaving it, please follow the St. Baldrick’s hair donating page.
If you would like to volunteer at the event or have questions regarding the event or fundraising, contact Ian Kanterman ian_kanterman@my.uri.edu, volunteer event organizer.
Will you brave the shave for a good cause?
This release was written by, Rachel Smith, a graduate assistant writer at the Marketing and Communications Department.
Photos courtesy of Ian Kanterman