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WIU employee Brandon Colley has participated in the St. Baldrick's event for the last four years.
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Annual St. Baldrick's Fundraiser Set for March 24

March 18, 2019

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MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University's Tanner Hall will once again host its annual St. Baldrick's fundraising event for childhood cancer from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, March 24 in Tanner Circle, located on University Drive. This is the 15th year WIU has hosted a fundraiser for the organization.

The event challenges participants to either shave their heads, volunteer time or donate to give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. A fundraising goal of $10,000 has been set for this year's event. Last year's St. Baldrick's event raised more than $12,000.

It is anticipated that more than 30 heads will be shaved during the WIU event. Also planned are children's activities, a photo booth and refreshments.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is volunteer-driven charity that awards childhood cancer research grants. More than 175,000 children worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer this year, meaning one diagnosis every three minutes.

"I became involved with the event when I saw that September was recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month," said Brandon Colley, a WIU employee and St. Baldrick's participant for the last four years. "At the time, we were expecting our second child and I couldn't stop thinking about how lucky we were to have healthy children. In years prior to this, our family was introduced to childhood cancer as my wife's cousin was diagnosed, fought and eventually beat a cancerous tumor in her brain. Through the years, I've continued to learn about childhood cancer research with the St. Baldrick's organization and I've been able to meet and be around children and families battling this disease. Once I got started, I couldn't stop and I never plan to stop until a cure is found."

Tanner Hall has already raised nearly $3,000 of its goal for this year's event.

For more information, or to donate to the WIU event, visit bit.ly/WIUSB19 or email JM-Stevenson@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing