Firefighters Go Bald For A Good Cause: Fighting Childhood Cancer

Bald has never looked better.

Or at least that's the hope shared by firefighters—including Fridley Lt. Todd Messer—who will be shaving their heads Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at Fire Station No. 2 in Plymouth.

The Plymouth Fire Department is having its second annual St. Baldrick's Day fundraising event to support the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

The event started Dec. 25, 2011, with participants pledging to not get a haircut, then on the following St. Patrick's Day they have their heads shaved bald.

"Firefighters from Plymouth Fire, Wayzata Fire, Fridley Fire, Airport Fire, St. Paul Fire and Eden Prairie Fire are amongst some of the departments represented at the event," Plymouth Deputy Fire Chief Kip Springer said. "We have a local barber who is donating their time to assist with the shaving."

Springer said he wasn't sure of the exact dollar amount raised last year, but it was several thousand dollars. So far this year, the group has raised more than $1,500 with online pledges.

For Springer the importance for participating is personal.

"I had a cousin who died from cancer at the age of 1," Springer said. "My son Kyle who is participating in the event was named after my cousin who died."

Springer said he believes everyone has a story about someone they know affected by cancer. 

"And if raising money by shaving my head will help to find a cure, I am all in,"  he said.

Messer's Message
Here is Messer's message from earlier this week: 

Dear Friends,

I’m going to do something pretty extreme again, and I’m asking for your support as we are nearing the shave date and I have not yet reached my goal. I’m going to have my head shaved at a St. Baldrick’s Foundation event on March 17, 2012 at Plymouth Fire Station 2.  With my bald head, I’ll stand in solidarity with kids being treated for cancer while raising money for life-saving research.   

Please make a donation on my head to help me reach my goal of $1000.00, and watch me and others “Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer!” This is a fun way to do something very important. You can give directly online for by searching for my name (donation recipient) at www.StBaldricks.org or by phone at 888-899-BALD.  Credit cards are the most efficient way to give, or you can write a check payable to “St. Baldrick’s Foundation.”  I’ll be collecting pledges! To see a list of my donors, fundraising progress, and “before” and “after” photos, visit my page on the St. Baldrick’s website.     

St. Baldrick's funds more in grants for childhood cancer research than any other organization except the U.S. government. Last year, the Foundation has funded nearly $22 million in new grants – all because over 45,000 people shaved their heads!  You can count on this donation being used responsibly. To see all the research being funded—by disease type, location and more—visit www.StBaldricks.org and click on "Where the Money Goes," then "View Grants."   

Of every dollar raised, 78% funds research to find a cure, 19% goes to fundraising (website, phones, postage, printing, t-shirts, office space, staff, etc.) and 3% goes to administration (accounting, distributing and monitoring grants, etc.).

You and I have seen in person the effects that various diseases and cancer has on kids!  I would gladly trade places with anyone of them at anytime!  I am a protector; it’s in my blood, I do it every day.  PLEASE help me make these kids live a longer and let’s show that we can make a difference! 

On behalf of some very special kids, thank you for your support!