$52K Raised For St. Baldrick's By Northport-East Northport Families

NORTHPORT, NY — Northport-East Northport families raised $52K for the St. Baldrick's Foundation at the annual "Brave the Shave" event at Northport High School this year, the school district announced.

The event was held Friday to raise money for pediatric cancer, as well as spread awareness.

Before this year's event, the district had already raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the foundation. The most recent fundraising effort added more than $52,000 to that total, helping fund important research and support for children battling the disease.

Students filled the Commons with positive energy as they partook in the dunk tank fundraiser, allowing students to dunk members of the staff as they raise money.

In the evening, students, staff and community members from across the district filled the school to "brave the shave," as students had their heads shaved as a sign of solidarity with children battling cancer. Members of the NHS National Honor Society helped organize and staff the event by collecting donations, celebrating with the shavees and managing the table providing hats and merchandise.

Local author and cancer survivor Charles Armstrong returned this year to speak about his book, "The Dog Named Beef," which details the true story of how Charles’s dog helped him find comfort and ultimately defeat brain cancer.

Northport High School student Christian Sloan, also a cancer survivor, spoke to the crowd as well.

"I would just like to thank everyone for supporting the St. Baldrick's thing and I am hoping in the future for all our hopes that cancer will be no more," he said, according to a news release.

Northport High School teacher aide Karen Paquet, whose son Caleb lost his battle with cancer in 2017, spoke about the importance of continuing to conduct research and provide clinical trials for pediatric cancer.

"Today I feel a beautiful camaraderie with all of you," she said. "We are here, united, in taking childhood back from cancer."

Dr. Rina Meyer, a pediatric hematology oncologist with Stony Brook Medicine, also spoke to the crowd about the hope that St. Baldrick’s brings to her patients and their families and recognized the important role that participants play in providing that hope.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation works with pediatric oncologists to "determine the most promising research to fund and create funding priorities to make the greatest impact for children with cancer."