March 15, 2007
ATLANTA – With Tech supporters, parents, and even media donating more than $6,250 to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation over the last two months, at least 25 members of the Georgia Tech baseball team will shave their heads following the Yellow Jackets’ game against Boston College this Saturday, March 17.
In early January, the team issued a challenge to its supporters, committing one player to shave his head for every $250 donated to the foundation, whose money goes towards finding a cure for childhood cancer. Tech fans responded, bypassing the team’s original goal of $5,000 last week, resulting in the remaining 15 members of the team to commit to shaving if fans will continue donating.
Fans will have the opportunity to donate until the end of Saturday’s game, either by clicking here or by visiting the donation table at the Gate 3 entrance of Russ Chandler Stadium Friday or Saturday.
To date, the following players are scheduled to shave for charity:
Wally Crancer, Michael Fisher, Danny Payne, Matt Wieters, Eddie Burns, David Duncan, Jason Haniger, Chris Hicks, Chris House, Michael Hutts, Michael Klindt, Luke Murton, Jay Dantzler, Sean Devine, Nick Wenderoth, Curtis Dupart, Jason Garofalo, Matt Harper, Will Hirsch, Patrick Long, Elliott Ogawa, Tony Plagman, Andrew Robinson, Jeff Ussery and Zach Von Tersch.
As of Thursday afternoon, the team was $34 away from seeing another player go bald for St. Baldrick’s, with the following upperclassmen still on hold for shaving:
Jared Hyatt, Ryan Turner, John Goodman, Nick Scherer, Brad Feltes, Tim Ladd, Brad Rulon, Charlie Blackmon, Jesse Dubberly and Loyall Gause.
St. Baldrick’s began in 1999 and is now the world’s biggest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer. Events have taken place in 10 countries and 42 U.S. States, raising over $20 million and shaving more than 26,000 heads.
It began when a group of Irish friends were trying to find a way to repay their good fortune by giving to others. They decided to turn a St. Patrick’s Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer, but struggled to find what would turn heads – and open the wallets – of their colleagues. One friend suggested shaving another’s head, since kids typically lose their hair during cancer treatment, and another said that he would gladly pay to see the man bald. Thus, St. Baldrick’s was born.
The largest St. Baldrick’s Foundation grants have gone to the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s foremost childhood cancer research organization, consisting of 230 research institutions working cooperatively to find cures. Six fellowships have also been funded to encourage the best and brightest new doctors to pursue careers in childhood cancer research. Twenty-six other grants have been made to local institutions for research.
Fans are invited to stick around to observe the event this Saturday, which will take place on the top of the Yellow Jackets dugout following the game.
