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WIU's Rocky is pictured with St. Baldrick's WIU Coordinator Casey Woodman.
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WIU St. Baldrick's Event Raises Nearly $16,800

May 7, 2013

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University's 2013 St. Baldrick's event, held March 24, raised $16,796 to raise awareness and funds to "Conquer Kids' Cancer."

Tanner Hall residents and advisers raised the money through cash donations and online pledges. The Tanner Hall staff and hall government leaders had initially set a goal of $10,000 for the event.

At the event, nearly 145 participants had their heads shaved. The staff at Michael's Hair Designers, Blades and R&R Spa, all in Macomb, donated their services for the four-hour event.

"Working with St. Baldrick's for the second year has been a great honor," said Casey Woodman, a resident assistant in Tanner Hall and the St. Baldrick's coordinator. "Seeing the impact that the event makes on children who have been affected by cancer makes me want to do it year after year. Being the event coordinator and a participant, I have been in constant contact with the St. Baldrick's Foundation planning and getting prepared for our record-breaking event. It also means a lot to me seeing how many people from the community come and participate in this event."

Participants included staff of the Office of Public Safety, members of PMA Kappa Psi and Sigma Chi. Other teams were formed also by students on campus to help support the event.

The top fundraising teams were: Shear Madness ($1095), Office of Public Safety and Friends ($805), and PMA Kappa Psi ($760). The top fundraising students were Melissa Kuhar, a freshman business manor from South Bend, IN ($1562) and Brandon Meyer, a graduate student from Macomb ($1205).

"The St. Baldrick's event was well organized, the volunteers were friendly and there was a great atmosphere there," said WIU freshman and Tanner Hall resident Gabrielle Esselman. "Participating in St. Baldrick's has been a great experience. It has made me realize that beauty isn't about how long your hair is, or how much your clothes cost, but about who you are on the inside. I did it to support a family friend that recently was diagnosed with cancer. I am excited to do it again next year too."

Since 2000, St. Baldrick's Foundation volunteers have organized nearly 4,200 head-shaving events and shaved more than 190,500 heads, raising more than $118 million for life-saving childhood cancer research. For more information on St. Baldrick's or to schedule a fundraising event, visit www.stbaldricks.org.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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