Jan. 25, 2007
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech’s baseball team has joined forces with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise money to find the cure for childhood cancer. The Yellow Jackets have agreed to shave their heads as a part of the St. Baldrick’s event, setting the lofty goal of raising at least $5000 by March 17, 2007, and are asking for the fans’ assistance in helping them raise the funds.
For every $250 donated by Georgia Tech fans over the next two months, one player on the team will have their head shaved following the Yellow Jackets’ game against Boston College on St. Patrick’s Day. Donations can be made by going to the St. Baldrick’s website and clicking “find an event,” searching for the Georgia Tech Baseball Private Event in Atlanta, Ga., or by clicking here.
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.
As part of the St. Baldrick’s Day festivities at Russ Chandler Stadium, the Yellow Jackets are inviting young cancer survivors from the Atlanta area to the game, with the kids escorting the team to the field prior to the playing of the national anthem.
