Dozens Shave Their Heads To Raise Money To Fight Cancer
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Dozens of people showed their support in the fight against cancer by shaving their heads for the annual St Baldrick's event.
Among those was our own Mai Martinez. She explains her inspiration.
One by one, they lost their lovely locks as 63 people shaved their heads for St. Baldrick's in the name of 12-year-old Emily Beazley, who died from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in May.
"Emily used to go to my school and she was in my grade and we all really miss her," said Kevin Lynch.
This was the 5th year for the event, but the first without Emily.
"Emily had many favorite events and this was one of them," said Nadia Beazley, Emily's mother. "She loved it
In part, because of all the funny moments.
"I know she smiling down and she's just laughing as they cut my hair down the middle first," said Ed Beazley, Emily's father.
But the Beazley's say under all the laugher, there's the serious job of raising money and awareness to fight childhood cancer and each and every haircut does that.
"When they see our heads shaved and ask why we can just tell them these kids need better and the way to do it is through funding," Ed Beazley said.
"We had money coming in all day and I'm sure people are still making online donations," said organizer Abby Casciato.
But it wasn't just Emily inspiring the crowd.
"A little buddy of mine Anthony is actually battling a rare form of brain cancer," Molly O'Donnell.
O'Donnell is one of Anthony Pappalas' supporters--also known as "Anthony's Avengers." She raised $2,000 to for St. Baldrick's and shaved her head.
Mai wasn't as brave, but enlisted Anthony's help to cut off 11 inches of her hair to donate so that wigs can be made for cancer patients. Emily Beazley's sister, Olivia, also helped.
Saturday's event raised $34,000 for St. Baldrick's, including $1,500 dollars Mai raised on one day thanks to generous donors.
For more information on St. Baldrick's, visit www.stbaldricks.org.
