Solvay UFSD Rocks the Bald and raises $24,697.42 for St. Baldrick's!

Go Bald or Go Home. Rock the Bald. Brave the Shave.

These mottos were seen and heard throughout the day at the second annual St. Baldrick’s event on March 17, 2017 held at Solvay High School. And go bald they did. The event raised an outstanding $24,697.42 for St. Baldrick’s and exceeded last year’s total.

Walking in to Solvay High School for the St. Baldrick’s event, attendees were immediately greeted with a sea of green and white, along with plenty of fun and wacky hairstyles. Shavees were invited to dye their hair fun colors, add glitter, and shape it into fun styles before they braved the shave. Volunteers, attendees, and participants also took part in the hair style station with a small donation. Along with this station, attendees were invited to try the other various stations set up throughout the event, including face painting, pie in the face, gift basket raffles, a bake sale, cereal eating contests, badminton tournament, fast fishing contest, and a hula hoop contest.  All proceeds from these stations went toward the fundraising totals for the event.

Attendees at the St. Baldrick’s event were also invited to purchase t-shirts for $10, with proceeds from the t-shirt sales going to St. Baldrick’s. The shirt design was created by Solvay High School senior Arthur Germakowski and featured “Rock the Bald” on the back. Shirts quickly sold out at the event and could be spotted in Solvay High School throughout the day.

The main event for the day occurred in the Solvay High School auditorium, where a total of 41 shavees braved the shave -- 29 of them were Solvay Middle School students. Shavees were invited to take the stage in groups to have their heads shaved in front of the crowd. As each group was called, they were greeted with a round of applause and cheers from the audience, as friends, family, and Solvay teachers and staff all supported the shavees. 

As each shave began, so did the chants and camera flashes. There was never a quiet moment in the auditorium, as music played through the speakers and onlookers were constantly cheering on the shavees. Friends and family members circled around the front of the stage to get a closer look and document the action as well, taking pictures, videos, and – at one point – live streaming the shave of a shavee.

After everyone had braved the shave, the event continued outside the auditorium in the Solvay High School lobby. The gift basket raffle station was especially busy, as event attendees rushed to enter for a chance to win the many gift basket and raffle items. After the gift basket raffle winners were announced, the event came to a close. But even though the St. Baldrick’s event had ended, the donations continued for many days following the event, proving just how dedicated the Solvay community was to the cause.

In total, the second St. Baldrick’s event at Solvay UFSD raised $24,697.42. There were 41 shavees who braved the shave and over 30 volunteers who helped to make the event a success, along with all of the friends, family, and Solvay teachers and staff who came out to show their support.

For those interested in donating, the Solvay High School event site for St. Baldrick’s will remain open until the end of the year. To make a donation to help cure childhood cancer, please visit the website at www.stbaldricks.org/events/SolvayHS.

Thank you to everyone involved in this extraordinary event. This is what makes Solvay special!
 

Written by Katie Finn