On April 27 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the northwest side of Solberg Hall, the second St. Baldrick’s event to occur in South Dakota history and the first for SDSU will be hosted by the Sigma Lambda Chi (SLC) Honor Society for Construction Management at SDSU. Jason Rave, a senior construction management major from Dell Rapids, S.D. and president of SLC said he is participating in this event because he wants to be part of something bigger.

“Knowing, because of my efforts, that maybe someday others or myself will benefit toward the research of finding a cure for cancer feels good. If I take a stand for a good cause, maybe others will do the same,” he said. This is also the guiding principle behind St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation began March 17, 2000, in New York City when John Bender, Tim Kenny and Enda McDonnell turned a St. Patrick’s Day party into a head-shaving event to benefit children with cancer. They hoped to raise $17,000, but surpassed that goal to raise a total of $104,000 — over six times as much as they originally anticipated. This also explains where the foundation gets its name, substituting ‘Bald’ for ‘Pat’ in St. Patrick’s to come up with St. Baldrick’s.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation has since become the second-largest volunteer-driven organization providing research grants for childhood cancer. The foundation raised more than $28 million in 2011 and $26,441,926 so far in 2012. Donors, shavees and supporters of this cause will gather at the event to collect funds and promote a cure for childhood cancer. The St. Baldrick’s event coming to SDSU was organized by Sigma Lambda Chi, which has a fraternity mission of giving back to the community.

Jessica Weiss, a junior construction management major from Sonda, N.Y., is a member of SLC and one of the event organizers. She said this event is especially important to her as a mother.

“I would do everything in my power to ensure my daughter’s safety, so being a part of a charity that will help families stay together and help find a cure is very dear to me,” she said.

Norma Nunsz-Chandler is also in the construction management program and is shaving her head in honor of her daughter-in-law, Teresa Boettcher, who is a seven-year survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

“This cause is important because children should not have to deal with cancer and the challenges that come with treatment. I dealt with cancer as an adult and have some comprehension of the challenges associated with cancer treatment,” she said. “It is just something a child should not have to endure. If this money raised by shaving my head will help find a cure or reduce the trauma of treatment for one child, it is well worth it.”

She also said that shaving your head is a liberating experience.

“It easier for me since I was bald once due to chemo but it is liberating to not have think about what my hair looks like or deal with fixing it every day. Our spirit is what makes us who we are not our hair or physical features,” she said. “The SLC is hosting this event because we would like to give back and be a part of something life-changing. We would also like the community to know that we are involved and here to help in any way that we can,”Weiss said.

SLC hopes to raise $30,000 through this event — so far they have reached $5,000. They are also looking to recruit between 50 and 75 shavees and have so far enlisted 31.

Rave has raised $500 of that total so far and donated $50 of his own money. He said this event is an opportunity to connect with the Brookings and SDSU community to raise awareness of childhood cancer and funds for a cure. “I believe it is also important for the community to understand that the students at SDSU do serve a purpose and do enjoy giving back to community,” he said. Registration and check in will begin at 2:30 p.m. on April 27.

At this time, shavees will get the chance to sign up for a time to have their head shaven and t-shirts will be given to shavees who raise $50 or more. Walk-ins will be welcome with a $10 minimum donation required for a shave. The shaves will occur approximately every 10 minutes and photo-taking opportunities will be available. For more information, call 688-4143 or 1-888-899-BALD..

“I believe it is also important for the community to understand that the students at SDSU do serve a purpose and do enjoy giving back to community,” he said. Registration and check in will begin at 2:30 p.m. on April 27. At this time, shavees will get the chance to sign up for a time to have their head shaven and t-shirts will be given to shavees who raise $50 or more. Walk-ins will be welcome with a $10 minimum donation required for a shave. The shaves will occur approximately every 10 minutes and photo-taking opportunities will be available. For more information, call 688-4143 or 1-888-899-BALD.sed $500 of that total so far and donated $50 of his own money. He said this event is an opportunity to connect with the Brookings and SDSU community to raise awareness of childhood cancer and funds for a cure.

“I believe it is also important for the community to understand that the students at SDSU do serve a purpose and do enjoy giving back to community,” he said. Registration and check in will begin at 2:30 p.m. on April 27. At this time, shavees will get the chance to sign up for a time to have their head shaven and t-shirts will be given to shavees who raise $50 or more. Walk-ins will be welcome with a $10 minimum donation required for a shave. The shaves will occur approximately every 10 minutes and photo-taking opportunities will be available. For more information, call 688-4143 or 1-888-899-BALD.