Just a Little Off the Top

More than 160 firefighters lost a few pounds Wednesday night – in hair. Departments from across the state came together for the 3^rd Annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event at McFadden’s in Providence, shaving of their luscious (or sometimes lack thereof) locks for charity.

The St. Baldrick Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

According to Chris Sperry of the East Providence Fire Department, which puts on the event, more than 20 teams participated this year in Rhode Island.

“Everybody has a great time and the timing is great because we get to piggyback on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Sperry.

Contributing to the mounds of hair on the floor were eight North Kingstown firefighters, who raised the second-most of any team with $5,098 with firefighter Chris Beattie raising $2,000 alone. North Scituate’s fire department raised the most out of any team with $6,640. .

“We shattered last year’s record,” said David Shogren of the North Kingstown Fire Department.

Kudos to Chris Beattie, John Pierson, Freddy Divers, Mike “Sled” Gledhill, David Shogren, Rob “Snoop” Meehan, Alan Weaver and Bryan Bonneau of the North Kingstown Fire Department and all those who shaved their heads.