Daring to go bald in support of children with cancer

2015 Baldricks

The opportunity to serve others is interwoven into the many activities of Joliet Catholic Academy. Recently JCA students, faculty, and staff dared to go bald in an effort to raise funds for childhood cancer research by participating in the Student Council organized St. Baldrick’s fundraiser. Participants agreed to shave their heads as a means of raising funds to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation sponsors the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research and members of the JCA community took the challenge to heart with many shaving in honor of family, friends, and faculty.

While battling cancer, children lose not only their hair but years of their childhood, and sometimes their lives. In comparison to their struggle, participants believe shaving their heads or cutting off inches was a small sacrifice and trust the money raised will make a difference for children with cancer now and in the future. The JCA team set a fundraising goal of $15,000. They not only conquered the goal, they crushed it, raising $26,861.

Many members of the JCA community stepped up for this challenge. Participants included: Nicholas Sandora, Riley O’Donnell, Blake Reardon, Cade Earl, Sister Barbara Kwiatkowski, Luke Mander, Dalton Jones, Dave Darguzis, Jacob Mihelich, Ethan Goolsby, Kathy Major, Billy Conti, Colin Egan, Dave Douglas, Alex McInerney, Kyle Behymer, Jamie Stolfo, Maria Fischer, Michael Tillmann, Chelsea Hizon, Wayne Smith and Brandon Kaminski. Barbers volunteering their talents were: Tina Binzen ’00, Pam Loucks ’70, Sherri Reardon ’80, Tony Roy, Agnessa Schulman, Megan Brown, Kristen Clackum, and Kelly Terry.

2015 Baldricks 3

Nicholas Sandora was the top fundraiser with donations totaling $8,675 followed by Riley O’Donnell with $3,450. Sr. Barb Kwiatkowski was the top female shavee with donations totaling $1,315 followed by Guidance Department Chair Kathy Major with $880.

JCA is grateful to everyone in the community who supported their fundraising efforts in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Special thanks go out to everyone who assisted in the success of the event.


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