Southwest Bulldogs Raise $25K For Childhood Cancer Research

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Southwest Elementary School students braved the shave Friday morning for childhood cancer research. For the first time in two years, the Southwest Bulldogs were back to shaving in person at their 12th annual St. Baldrick’s event.

Students exceeded their $15,000 fundraising goal, raising $25,290 this year, supporting Emily Beazley’s Kures for Kids Fund. Southwest Students have raised over $250,000 in the last 12 years by shaving their heads.

Kindergarteners, first- and second-graders went at it first in the gymnasium, followed by third through fifth-graders. In total, 40 students shaved their heads. Thousands of St. Baldrick head- shaving events happen around the country, symbolizing solidarity with pediatric cancer patients, who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment.

St. Baldrick Foundation started in a pub in New York City, where three reinsurance executives challenged each other to shave their heads for childhood cancer research. In 2000, the first St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event was held, with 19 people shaving their heads and donating $104,000 to fund the research of the Childhood Oncology Group. Today, the St. Baldrick's Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

The top fundraisers at Southwest were Finnegan B., who raised $5,362; Dominic Rodighiero, $1,800; and Stori L., with $1,451.

Southwest’s top fundraised teams were Team Dequaine, which raised $1,726; Girl Power, 1,726; and Montelione, with $1,411.