Crystal Lake South Students, Teachers Go Bald for St. Baldrick’s Foundation

Guys usually make up the shavees, those shaving their heads in solidarity for children who have cancer and lose their hair, for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation annual fundraiser.

But Mike Splitt was impressed this year by the number of girls signing up to shave their heads at Crystal Lake South High School for the cause. The school is located at 1200 S. McHenry Ave.

“We had 10 girls with long hair down to their shoulders doing it, they shaved their heads completely bald,” said Splitt, president elect of the Crystal Lake Kiwanis Club which organized the fundraiser. “They raised a good amount of money. It was very inspiring.”

It took an hour for six barbers to shave the 60 heads of students and teachers, he said.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation started nationally 10 years ago and has raised $100 million for pediatric cancer research, Splitt said. The Crystal Lake Kiwanis started participating four years ago with about 60 people.

The Kiwanis’ goal is to do good things and help kids, he said. Raising funds for St. Baldrick’s Foundation fits in line with that mission, he said.

McHenry County College teams are next in the barber’s chair. Teams will shave their heads from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the college’s Luecht Conference Center, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake.

More than 100 people are expected to shave their heads with the help of 15 volunteer barbers, he said. “It’s mothers, fathers, kids, a lot of students and business people,” he said.

Some shavees have raised a couple of thousand dollars, he said.

This year, the group’s goal was to raise $10,000. So far, shavees have raised $11,000 and Splitt expects the number to go higher.

“It’s all for a great cause,” he said. “It’s our honor to do this and help find a cure.”

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