South Huntington Shaves Heads, Raises $19K in Powerful Cancer Fundraiser

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Students shaved their teachers’ heads. Kids shaved their parents’ heads. Parents shaved their children’s heads. Teachers shaved their students’ heads.

Walt Whitman High School was buzzing with activity on March 10 as volunteers of all ages — and all hair lengths — took a seat in the barber chair, ready to lose their locks and give hope to children fighting cancer.

The Robocats robotics club continued its long-running tradition of hosting a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser, once again rallying the South Huntington community to “free their follicles” in support of childhood cancer research. This year’s event raised more than $19,000.

The event was founded 19 years ago by Whitman physics and engineering teacher and Robocats advisor, Jaime Rogers. Rogers first launched the effort by shaving his 11-year-old son’s head — before switching seats and letting his son return the favor.

What began as a small service project with 12 participants raising $3,000 has since grown into a major district tradition.

“I thank everyone for supporting us every year,” Rogers said. “It’s such a great cause. So many of us have had our lives touched by cancer. When I was 16, my mom had cancer. I saw some of my friends donate at a fire department St. Baldrick's event, and then I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s bring it to the school.’”

Whitman senior Ryan Pastore, one of this year’s top fundraisers, raised $3,500. He has participated annually since 2015 in memory of his sister, Marissa, who had leukemia.

“People have said things to me before like, ‘Why would you cut your hair like that?’” Pastore said. “And I say, ‘My hair’s gonna grow back. I’m doing this for the kids whose hair doesn’t always grow back, and for my sister, because she can’t be with me here today to do all this stuff.’”

One of the most talked-about moments of the day came from the mother-daughter team of Summer and Violet Chetty. Eleven-year-old Violet and her mother arrived with long braided ponytails, prepared to donate their hair to support patients with cancer and alopecia.

According to Summer Chetty, the decision started with her daughter.

“She came home a couple weeks ago and said, ‘Mom, I wanna do St. Baldrick’s,’” she said. “And I asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I told her, ‘Kids might make fun of you with a bald head.’ But she didn’t care. And I think because of her bravery — a few days later I said, ‘I’m gonna do it with you.’”

Together, they raised nearly $3,500.

Teachers and students from Maplewood and Birchwood Intermediate Schools formed the top fundraising team, bringing in more than $10,000. Birchwood teacher Matthew Williams, participating for the fourth year, opted for a close trim rather than going fully bald — and let his students handle the clippers.

“It’s all about the kids,” Williams said. “We do it to show them what’s right, that giving can be fun, and to get them involved both inside and outside the classroom.”

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation began in 1999 as a challenge among three friends who shaved their heads at a St. Patrick’s Day party to raise money for childhood cancer research and stand in solidarity with children undergoing treatment.

According to the foundation, it has invested more than $371 million in childhood cancer research grants worldwide since 2005.