Tyler McCue - Whiz Kid of the Week

• Tyler McCue     
• Age 9
• Student, Lawrenceville Elementary School
• Participant in St. Baldrick’s event

Darby McChesney nominated Tyler McCue as this week’s Whiz Kid and we here at Lawrenceville Patch agree he is more than worthy of the honor.

Tyler has been very active in the in Lawrence Township since 2009. His parents, Melissa and Mike McCue, organized the event locally and sponsor it each year through their business, Colonial Valley Chiropractic.

Tyler was the first child in the township to shave his head in 2009 and has inspired other children and community members to shave their heads to raise money to support childhood cancer research. In the last two years, the event has raised over $165,000. The Kidsbridge Museum honored Tyler with the Kidsbridge Humanitarian Award in 2009  and 2010.

Tyler’s mom, Melissa McCue, offered this anecdote about the key to her son’s awesomeness:

“A great example of Tyler’s ability to impact other people was two years ago during our annual St. Baldrick’s event. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. In the middle of the event, while everyone was having their heads shaved, he said: ‘I want to shave my head to raise money for the kids with cancer.’ He later explained that he finally realized that the kids that are sick have no choice to have hair or not and he wanted to be able to help them if he could. He said that he felt really bad because the kids didn’t choose to be sick and he wanted to help in any way to make them better.  In a very impulsive and brave moment he decided to shave his head in front of everyone at the event and in that day alone he raised $873 because people were so inspired by his decision.”

The following year, during the 2010 St. Baldrick’s event, Tyler convinced 13 of his friends to have their heads shaved. Their team from Lawrenceville Elementary School raised $16,380 that year, and the event overall generated $64,000 that went to children’s cancer research.

“Now in 2011 his dedication for the cause is stronger than ever,” she said. “He has written emails, created videos and continues to be a very strong advocate for St. Baldrick’s and the idea of shaving your head in solidarity for children with cancer.  His friends and family are his biggest fans and his emails and videos have been sent to so many people with the title ‘Our Little Hero.’” 

During he 2011 St. Baldrick’s event held earlier this month, the Lawrenceville Elementary School team included 23 children and three teachers and raised over $33,000.

“At 9 years old he already understands why charity is so important and is always looking for ways to help people who aren’t as lucky as he is to be healthy.  I know this is something that he will take with him through life and I hope that with his contributions he will continue to help as little or as much as he can,” Melissa McCue said.