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Health & Fitness

L-W North Faculty, Students to Shave Heads for St. Baldrick's

Just more than two dozen students and faculty members from Lincoln-Way North High School will shave their heads Feb. 24 to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Just more than two dozen students and faculty members from Lincoln-Way North High School will shave their heads Feb. 24 to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Their goal is to raise $20,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that funds childhood cancer research grants.

“It’s a really good cause,” said Lincoln-Way North senior Dena Waldier, president of the school’s St. Baldrick’s Club.

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“I know I would have a rough time (if I was going through treatment),” she added. “It would make me feel better if I knew someone was supporting me.”

This is the third year Lincoln-Way North students have staged a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. During that time, they have raised about $33,000 for the foundation.

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To prepare for this year’s fundraiser, students began meeting in October to line up volunteers to shave their heads and to solicit donations from family, friends and local businesses.

So far, they have recruited 25 students, parents and faculty members to shave their heads during the boys basketball game on Feb. 24.

It doesn’t take much to talk people into participating, said Dena, especially the boys.

“The guys enjoy doing it,” she said. “It makes them feel good.”

Several girls have stepped forward to shave their heads this year, including Karissa Weber and Liz Paluch.

Lincoln-Way North English teacher Dianne Shorter has agreed to shave her head – but only if she raises $3,000 first.

Dena contemplated shaving her long locks but decided she would end up looking too much like her brother.

Instead, she opted to help organize this year’s St. Baldrick’s fundraiser at North.

She was inspired to do so after seeing an older classmate, Alyssa Breidigan, shave her head at a school assembly two years ago.

Most people who join the St. Baldrick’s effort know someone who has battled cancer, said Lincoln-Way-North teacher and St. Baldrick’s Club sponsor Coley O’Connell.

“Many of them have personal stories of friends and relatives who have battled cancer over the years,” he added. “It touches my heart to see so many students working for such a great cause.”

O’Connell is among those shaving his head Feb. 24. It will be the third consecutive year he has gone bald for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“Cancer has affected my family quite a bit,” he said, explaining how he lost both grandfathers to the disease.

Now friends and family call him each year to find out when he’s going to shave his head so they can support him and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Joining him this year in the barber chair will be Lincoln-Way North P.E. teacher/wrestling coach Jack Young, Lincoln-Way North social science teacher Mitch Nowicki and paraprofessional Steve Radostits.

Student shavees include: Alex Gutierrez, Chris Cranston, Chris Shworles, Nick Rochkus, Dalton Hargrave, William Zeitz, Marc Huladek, Liam Brekke, Shawn MacDougall, Ben Connors, Justin Broderick, Joe Leone, Matt Juskie, John Kane, Jorge Yahuaca, Angelo Garcia and Dan Fish. Evan Bloomfield of Lincoln-Way East High School also will be participating.

For more information about their efforts, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and how you can support the Lincoln-Way North effort, visit the event's website.

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