Going Bald For St Baldrick’s Raises Thousands

By Kendra Bobowick

She held clippers above his ear and zipped it toward the top of his head. Hair rolled away in clumps. Jennifer Calandrino stepped closer to Kevin Grover and buzzed away all of his hair Sunday, March 18, during a St Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser event held at McGuire’s Ale House on Mt Pleasant Road.

Seated beside Mr Grover for a haircut of his own was event organizer Michael Connors. While a crowd of supporters snapped photos and applauded over the rumbling sounds of a live country band, Klickers Hair Studio of Newtown owner Toni Ribeiro brushed off Mr Connors’ shoulders.  Starting the day with more than $17,000 funds raised toward his goal of $30,000, Mr Connors and his cousin Robyn Raphael believed they reached their mark by the end of the four-hour event.

Before sitting down for a cut, Mr Connors addressed the many on hand filling the ale house to support the St Baldrick’s Foundation — a volunteer-driven charity that funds childhood cancer research.

Like many people, Mr Connors’ life has been touched by cancer. He said, “I decided to do this in memory of my father, and my nephew.” His cousin’s son Keaton died in 1998 at age 5.

Ms Raphael remembers: “I knew nothing about childhood cancer, but today I am raising funding. It’s all for the kids. It’s incredible.” Describing Ms Raphael’s hardship, Mr Connors’ mother Jean Zarrillo said, “She turned tragedy into a beacon of hope.” Ms Raphael started ChildCancer.org, which has “collected hundreds of thousands [of dollars],” Ms Zarrillo explained.

When Ms Raphael learned of her cousin’s father’s death last year, she had said, “Let’s do a [St Baldrick’s] head shave in his honor.” Months later, Mr Connors called her with a date and time. “He had set it up, so I flew out from California.” She considered her support Sunday “an advocacy trip.”

The music, fundraising, contributions, and hair cutting continued. Stepping up to take a turn was Chuck Boucher and his sons Craig and Steven. As Mr Boucher’s niece Tara Randi started up her clippers, his sister-in-law Diane Hall and her daughter Christy Ducharme laughed and photographed the three as their hair slipped to the floor.

Before they took their seats, Ms Calandrino had shaved off Jordan Conrad’s light brown locks, and Alex-Rae Moring clipped away Cole McKeown’s hair.

Mr Connors and others made their thank yous to McGuire’s owners Shawn Fuller and Mike Higgins for providing generous contributions and a venue for the event. Also donating their time and music that afternoon were The Adults of Newtown, and out-of-town bands Bourbon Cowboys and NeverReady.

Visit StBaldricks.org to learn more about the cancer-fighting foundation.