This Year, St. Baldrick's Day Is Borough's Biggest Yet

As the Sixth-Annual St. Baldrick's Day ended Sunday, 1,000 guests gathered on the Scottish Rite Auditorium Ballroom floor, forming a circle around a very special guest.

The band kicked-up a rendition of Irish song "Julie Whiskey," as the crowd formed a circle around 10-year-old Julie McNeely, of Collingswood. In the center, Julie sat in a chair, waiting for the buzzing to start.

The buzzing came closer until it touched her head, cleaning off the first strip of shoulder-length brown hair in one quick stroke. And the cheers didn't stop until Julie's head was shaved completely bald.

In St. Baldrick's Day tradition, Julie shaved her head to raise money for pediatric cancer and honor those who lose their hair to cancer treatment every day. 

And at the Collingswood chapter of St. Baldrick's Day—hosted by Collingswood Firefighters For A Kid's Cure—Julie McNeely had a very important reason for shaving her head.

Julie's older sister, who is just 12 years old, is in the middle of her own battle—against a brain tumor. To honor her sister's fight, Julie took matters into her own hands and decided to shave it all off Sunday.

But the head-shaving did more than just honor her sister's fight. Shavees—a St. Baldrick's term for people who volunteer to shave their heads—raise money by promising to go bald. Julie's promise earned around $3,000 from locals who supported her mission. 

Until an Oaklyn man, who wishes to remain anonymous, became inspired by the 10-year-old's tribute to her sister. As Julie shaved her head Sunday, the man announced he'd match whatever money Julie raised. 

And because of the man's donation match, the $3,000 raised from Julie's head-shaving jumped to $6,000.

Julie was one of approximately 325 people who volunteered to shave their heads on Sunday, according to Collingswood Fire Department Chief John R. Amet.

Included in the 325 shavees was Hammonton resident, 32-year-old Amanda Santone. She's been involved with Collingswood's St. Baldrick's Day for the past four years, and this was the second year in a row she's gone bald at the event. 

"I shaved my head last year, so my hair had only grown to a bob-length by the time I had it shaved today," said Santone. "My husband and I raised a lot of money for our team this year just by shaving our heads."

Santone said her two children are healthy little girls, and her family has not been touched by cancer—but still feels compelled to volunteer. And at this year's event, she noticed something was different than at past St. Baldrick's Days.

"Nobody expects the women to shave their heads," said Santone. "And that's because no women usually do. Last year, only a handful of ladies went bald. But this year, I was shocked at how many women actually did it. It was really great to see."

And this year saw a better turnout all around, regardless of gender. Though the borough's firefighters said they won't have exact numbers until next week, the event raised more money than past years.

"We had already raised $64,625 today, before the event began," said Collingswood firefighter and St. Baldrick's Day co-organizer Kevin Ehret. "Our goal this year was to raise $100,000. And I really think we met, if not surpassed, that goal." 

Fire Chief Amet gave his reasons for agreeing with Ehret.

"As of today, whatever we raised before the event started ($64,625), we brought in at least half of that during the actual event. At least half," said Amet. 

At the event, funds were raised from ticket sales at the 93-item Chinese auction, cover charges of $10 per person and bar sales. To help ensure all funds went to children's cancer research, services were also donated Sunday, including live music from the Broken Shillelaghs and buffet-style food from Green Leaf Catering.

And according to Amet, the day's ticket sales amounted to at least 900 adults and 15 children. 

And of the various teams—who assemble each year to raise money for Collingswood Firefighters for a Kid's Cure—this year's winner raised about $11,000. 

"This was the biggest year we've had," said Amet Sunday. "It's really beautiful."