2008 Woodie Awards
Help cure cancer by going bald
Geoff Rands
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
On April 20, students and community members are invited to take part in the St. Baldrick's annual head-shaving event in Tanner Circle. The event is designed to raise awareness and funds for sufferers of childhood cancer as well as show "solidarity" with those children, according to stbaldricks.org.
The eight-year-old foundation's Web site announced that 500 events, up from 2007's 402, have been scheduled for this year in more than eight countries. This will be the fourth year Western Illinois University has hosted the event, with marked increases in attendance levels each year, according to senior microbiology major Katie Uttich, Tanner Hall's senior residence assistant. Last year, approximately 80 people gave up at least some of their hair, Uttich estimated.
"It's awesome that a bunch of people are willing to shave their heads for the cause. I mean, I'm not going to shave mine, but I'd donate money still," said Hamilton Miller, sophomore law enforcement and justice administration major.
"We tarp the area down here inside the flying-saucer-shaped Tanner Circle," Uttich said. "And then the barbers (will) all have their disposable razors and stuff. (The anticipated 30 volunteers will) be sweeping up and we have water buckets that we'll get a line of us out changing."
Participants can sign up to have their heads shaved as individuals or a team either online at stbaldricks.com or at the event, though Uttich said she and other organizers encourage people to sign up ahead of time. She added by registering at the Web site, participants have the opportunity to find sponsors through e-mail and have those donors pay online with a credit card.
Participants are asked to bring any non-electronic donations to the event in Tanner Circle, though Uttich said the Web site should still give directions on how to donate directly to the foundation.
The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and typically ends around 6 p.m.
"We'll have people coming up right up to the end where we'll be cleaning up and (they'll ask), 'Hey, can I get my head shaved?' And they're still donating, so we welcome everybody and anybody whenever they can make it in," Uttich said.
The eight-year-old foundation's Web site announced that 500 events, up from 2007's 402, have been scheduled for this year in more than eight countries. This will be the fourth year Western Illinois University has hosted the event, with marked increases in attendance levels each year, according to senior microbiology major Katie Uttich, Tanner Hall's senior residence assistant. Last year, approximately 80 people gave up at least some of their hair, Uttich estimated.
"It's awesome that a bunch of people are willing to shave their heads for the cause. I mean, I'm not going to shave mine, but I'd donate money still," said Hamilton Miller, sophomore law enforcement and justice administration major.
"We tarp the area down here inside the flying-saucer-shaped Tanner Circle," Uttich said. "And then the barbers (will) all have their disposable razors and stuff. (The anticipated 30 volunteers will) be sweeping up and we have water buckets that we'll get a line of us out changing."
Participants can sign up to have their heads shaved as individuals or a team either online at stbaldricks.com or at the event, though Uttich said she and other organizers encourage people to sign up ahead of time. She added by registering at the Web site, participants have the opportunity to find sponsors through e-mail and have those donors pay online with a credit card.
Participants are asked to bring any non-electronic donations to the event in Tanner Circle, though Uttich said the Web site should still give directions on how to donate directly to the foundation.
The event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and typically ends around 6 p.m.
"We'll have people coming up right up to the end where we'll be cleaning up and (they'll ask), 'Hey, can I get my head shaved?' And they're still donating, so we welcome everybody and anybody whenever they can make it in," Uttich said.
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