Newswise — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nearly 70 brave volunteers, including University of Louisville Executive Vice President for Health Affairs David L. Dunn, M.D., Ph.D., are scheduled to shave their heads at the 12th annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation signature head-shaving event, to stand in solidarity with kids affected by cancer and raise money for lifesaving research. The event will take place at The Brewery, 426 Baxter Ave., at 1-7 p.m.
“Throughout my career in medicine, one of the most amazing things I see is the courage of children with chronic illness such as cancer,” Dunn said. “Having my head shaved is only a symbolic gesture, but it is one visible way to honor and reward those children who demonstrate bravery every day.
“I challenge my health care executive colleagues throughout Louisville, in every sector, not just pediatric health care, to join me Sunday and have their heads shaved for this very worthy cause.”
In addition to the main event of volunteers losing their hair to the clippers, other activities will include a raffle for tickets to local Louisville attractions, music by local DJs, and more. The Kentucky Cancer Program, University of Louisville Physicians and James Graham Brown Cancer Center at UofL, a part of KentuckyOne Health, also will take part.
Louisville has been an avid supporter of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation since 2003, shaving more than 4,000 heads to date. For the past three years, students at the UofL School of Medicine have held events in February to raise funds. This year’s event raised more than $13,000.
“The University of Louisville and the entire city have been such strong supporters of St. Baldrick’s Foundation through the years,” said St. Baldrick’s Foundation CEO, Kathleen Ruddy. “Every research hospital depends upon its partner university, and both depend upon St. Baldrick’s to deliver the funds necessary to fuel their research programs. We’re honored that Dr. Dunn will join our ranks of shavee who understand the importance of this collaboration. We know it will be a memorable day for him!”
Funds raised support the St. Baldrick’s mission to fund the very best childhood cancer research taking place locally and nationally, so that children in Louisville not only benefit from the breakthroughs being made locally, but will benefit from advances taking place at other institutions across the country.
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About St. Baldrick’s FoundationThe St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick’s coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $127 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries.
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