For the second consecutive year, Cazenovians have raised nearly $50,000 to help increase childhood cancer research and awareness through a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising event. Hundreds of people showed up to the event, held Sunday, March 22, at Burton Street Elementary School, more than 100 got their heads shaved and, as of press time, a little more than $47,000 was raised.

“We’re very happy with the turnout,” said Sean Kelly, who organized the event with his wife, Erin Kate. “The venue this year is ideal: more space, more sparking, more family-friendly.”

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a national volunteer-driven charity that allows anyone to host or create a head-shaving event to raise money for the organization. Participants collect pledges from family and friends and agree to have their heads shaved as a visible, outward sign of the fight against all types of cancer. The money goes to St. Baldrick’s, but typically gets allocated to medical facilities local to an event.

This was the second year that a St. Baldrick’s event was held in Cazenovia, and this year, like last year, the guest of honor was Nathaniel Henry, a 7-year-old first-grade student at Burton Street Elementary School who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in March 2012 and is currently undergoing treatment.

Nathaniel and his father both were in the first group of shavees on Sunday, and their fundraising team, Nathaniel’s Cancer Crusaders, raised more than $1,300.

Of the approximately 100 shavees this year, more than 50 were children, Kelly said. Many of the participants were men and boys, but there were also a number of girls and women who participated — some with long hair.

Penny Noll, executive director of the Cazenovia Children’s House, had her head shaved for the first time during Sunday’s event.

“It’s kind of tickly,” she said after the shave was done. “I’ve thought about doing this for a few years but this year decided it was important to make a statement and support the cause. … I think it’s important as a female for young girls to see that beauty comes from inside.”

The top individual fund raiser for the event at more than $3,000, Cazenovia High School teacher Christina New, had hair nearly down to her waist before she stepped up on stage.

“I feel good; I feel nervous,” she said.

Another participant from Cazenovia High School was the principal, Eric Knuth, who had the beginning of his head shave done by student Ben Knutsen, who won a school raffle for the opportunity.

Cazenovia High School students also had a fundraising challenge at school, and the result was a donation of $800 in change, Kelly said.

At the end of the event, the Cazenovia community had raised only $2,000 less than was raised last year, Kelly said — although donations will continue to trickle in and be accepted even though the event is over.

He said people keep asking him and Erin Kate if they will hold another St. Baldrick’s fundraiser next year — “And I tell them that as long as the community wants to support it, we’ll keep doing it every year.”

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].