To raise money for children’s cancer research, NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine Pediatrics Club is partnering with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to organize a 5k walk/run and a shaving event on March 18 starting at 7:30 a.m. in front of the Alvin Sherman Library.
Last year, the club raised $8,000 dollars for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit that funds childhood cancer research.
Taylor Bracco, first-year medical student and co-chair of the St. Baldrick’s event for the pediatrics club, hopes that more people will turn out for this year’s event and that the club will surpass last year’s monetary goal.
“Hopefully this money that we’re raising will help find better methods to treat [children] that maybe aren’t as harsh as going through chemotherapy, because going through chemotherapy is hard for everyone but especially for a child who’s so tiny and so young and still developing,” she said. “It is really harsh on them.”
This year’s events will kick off with the Pjammin’ 5k, where participants will run in their pajamas to raise money. The race will also feature free food and music, and the first 250 participants to register for the race will receive a tank top and a medal.
At the shaving and hair donation event following the race, participants will be able to donate their hair to childhood cancer patients and shave their heads to show support for children with cancer. A childhood cancer survivor and law school student who has been impacted by childhood cancer research will also speak.
According to Bracco, shaving your head is meant to help children’s cancer patients feel accepted.
“For a lot of people it’s very embarrassing…to lose their hair. It’s to show them support and stand by them and show them that it’s not as horrific and that we’re there for them. We’re not judging them.”
According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation website, 300,000 children are diagnosed with some form of children’s cancer each year, and less than 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute’s funds go towards research for childhood cancers.
Christina Baxter, second-year medical student and president of the pediatrics club, said that this event is important to her because it’s why she’s in medical school.
“I see myself working with children and families for the rest of my life, children who have been impacted by cancer and have need of support and encouragement,” she said. “That’s something that we can do now in medical school and also if you’re [an] undergraduate.”
According to Baxter, raising awareness for childhood cancers is important.
“[Childhood cancer] is something we can change now by running in our pajamas and being together as a school and as a community to raise awareness for the problem,” she said.
Both events are open to the community. To donate their hair, participants do not have to enter the 5k race. To register for the race, go to goo.gl/VGzYXq. There is a registration fee of $20. To find out more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, visit stbaldricks.org.
