Amy Levins, biology sophomore and IUS Pre-Med Society President, said she is nervous about shaving off her long, dark hair. However, she said she has been watching online videos of people with long hair having their heads shaved to help inspire her and ease her nerves.
“It is just hair, it will grow back,” Levins said. “I’ll probably cry, though.”
Levins is one of many IUS students that have committed to shaving their heads to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to raising money to fund childhood cancer research.
The IUS Pre-Med Society is currently hosting the fundraiser and has formed a team on campus to help raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation website, foundation volunteers have helped raise enough money to award more than $103 million in cancer research grants since 2005.
The foundation focuses on childhood cancers because even though more adults are diagnosed with cancer than children, childhood cancers are responsible for stealing more years of life, according to the website.
The Pre-Med Society is looking for more volunteers for the cause, Joshua Scantland, biochemistry senior, said.
While Scantland has agreed to shave his head, he said people do not have to cut their hair in order to participate.
“Cutting the hair is a symbolic thing,” he said.
To have their heads shaved, participants have to raise at least $50 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Daniel Weaver, biology senior, said he set his fundraising goal at $70.
“I figured people would enjoy seeing me bald enough to donate,” he said.
Levins said she committed to shaving her head because she wants to work in oncology, and losing her hair would help her relate to her patients.
“It would be a good way to see things through their eyes,” she said.
Levins said she raised $35 online and about $70 in cash so far. She said her original goal was $1,500, but she plans to lower it to $500.
“I planned on working on it a lot during spring break,” Levins said.
However, she said she will not be able to work on raising money because she will be out of town.
The goal for IU Southeast is to raise $4,000 as a whole, and for the Pre-Med Society to raise $3,000, Levins said. The Pre-Med Society has raised about $1,800, she said.
Scantland said the Pre-Med Society plans to host the St. Baldrick’s event each year and in the future hopes to have other groups on campus join in raising money for the foundation.
The St. Baldrick’s event will be on Apr. 10 at IU Southeast. To sponsor a shavee or simply donate to the cause, visit http://www.stbaldricks.org and search for “IUS” under the venue.
By HANNAH ASH
Staff
