It's incredible what a caring group of
people can do when they put their
"heads" together.
Students, faculty, and staff at St. John’s University participated
once again in the St. Baldrick’s and Locks of Love
event, on both the Queens and Staten
Island campuses. Volunteers shaved 55
heads and donated 22 Locks of Love (including
5 women who donated locks and shaved heads).
Donated hair will be used to create wigs for those being treated
with cancer. Even more exciting is the more
than $35,000—and still counting—that our
volunteers raised to find cures for childhood
cancer. John Bender ’87TCB, Founder of St.
Baldrick's Foundation, attended the event.
Photo Gallery
The spirit and energy of the day was electric and Campus Ministry
was so grateful for all those who supported this effort. The event
on the Queens campus was privileged to honor Gabrielle
Brancaccio, a five-year-old child who survived cancer and
now serves as an ambassador for the St. Balderick’s Foundation. “We
feel indebted to the doctors that have helped us see through, but
also, we feel so humbled by being honored by St. John’s because
people are taking the time to care about others who have gone
through this,” said Gabrielle’s mother, Dana
Brancaccio. “It makes our family feel completed that
we have gone through this full circle and that Gabrielle is healthy
and this event is so energizing and helps us feel that we have came
to the other side.” To find out more about
Gabrielle, visit her website.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation grants more for childhood cancer
research than any organization except the US government. The
organization raised more than $21 million in 2011
alone. Donations and support will help find cures for childhood
cancers and help give survivors long and healthy lives.
Contributors may see how their donations are being put to work by
visiting www.StBaldricks.org. Grants
are made in July and October, and are all listed on the website by
location and purpose.
By supporting St. Baldrick's, contributors and volunteers are
heroes, with more than 160,000 kids worldwide
who are diagnosed with cancer every year.
The University will be shaving heads again next year, and it is
never too early (or late) to get involved. Please feel free to
contact Angela Seegel at seegela@stjohns.edu (Queens
campus), or Melissa Gibilaro at gibilarm@stjohns.edu (Staten
Island campus), to find out about next year's event.
Again, thank you for your donation and
support!