Head-Shaving Event Raises Money For Cancer Research
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Many groups have been working in the fight against cancer by doing all sorts of crazy things to raise money.
This weekend, it wasn't just the men who decided to shave their heads - women also got involved.
It was quite a party on the South Side this weekend as the St. Baldrick's Foundation of Pittsburgh raised money for cancer research.
More than 100 men and women chose to shave their heads to raise money, but it was 9-year-old Alivia Elphinstein who was the star of the show.
"When I was little, I had cancer and I want to help them so they can be healthy," Elphinstein said.
"Seven years later, she is cancer free and she has been growing her hair ever since with just a few little trims, and today she is going to cut her hair and do a double donation to a group that makes
wigs for children," Sam Kane of St. Baldrick's Foundation, said.
Volunteers cut about a foot off the bottom of Alivia's hair. All the stylists were volunteers from a salon in Monroeville and they wanted to help St. Baldrick's wipe out the dreaded disease.
Cancer is absolutely devastating. Only one-in-five children that are diagnosed with a pediatric cancer will survive. Total cancer research for children only makes up about four percent," Kane said.
Events like this one have been held across the country for nearly a decade and have raised more than $46 million for the Children's Oncology Group.
Here in Pittsburgh, money from this event goes straight to research at Children's Hospital.
"Almost $900,000 from St. Baldrick's has been donated there since 2005. So, this is truly a local event where the money stays here in our backyard," Kane said.
To make sure they can help kids like Alivia, who now is stepping up herself.
"Because I want to help kids have better lives," Alivia said.
For more information about St. Baldrick's click here: http://bit.ly/OweTID
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