Rockville Centre St. Baldrick's Shave Moves Virtual For 2021

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY — Rockville Centre's annual St. Baldrick's Shave, usually held at the St. Agnes Parish Center, is going virtual this year due to the coronavirus.

The event, which is usually held the weekend after St. Patrick's Day, is being moved online. Participants are still encouraged to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, but instead of getting together for a big shave event, they'll shave their heads individually.

"Sadly, the covid pandemic that began last year forced the foundation to move all events to virtual events," St. Baldrick's wrote on its web page. "While this is and remains the correct decision to keep everyone safe and healthy, its had a material impact on the foundation's ability to raise funds and ultimately to fund promising research."

Normally, organizations hold events in March for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to raise money to fund research into childhood cancer. The St. Baldrick's Foundation is the largest non-governmental funder of research into childhood cancer. Those who participate in the events have their heads shaved in solidarity with children who are going through cancer treatments, which can often leave them bald.

According to St. Baldrick's, the shift to virtual events last year due to the pandemic made the organization fall short of its fundraising goal by $20 million.

In order to help make up that difference, this year's Rockville Centre event is setting a lofty goal of $350,000. And instead of being just one day, the fundraiser will be ongoing throughout the year. And if shaving your hair isn't your thing, there are still ways to help.

"Run a race, have a bake sale, hold a garage sale, be creative, bring your interests and talents to our mission," St. Baldrick's wrote. "You can still sign up on our RVC event web page as a participant to fundraise and keep your hair."

To sign up for the virtual Rockville Centre event, or just to donate, you can click here.