ORONO, Maine — Junior biology major Caroline Curtis once had long hair that stretched mid-way down her back, but she gave it up in a show of support for children with cancer.
“The first time I did this I had really long hair, so I was kind of scared,” Curtis said Wednesday as a local stylist shaved her head bald for the second time in three years during the annual St. Baldrick’s Maine Day head-shaving event and fundraiser. “But I really like being bald. It’s enlightening.”
After Curtis’ head was shaved, several people took turns rubbing her super soft cranium.The symbolism of having a bald head, a typical side effect of chemotherapy treatment, is one way to let child cancer patients know they are not alone.
The UMaine Circle K club has held the head-shaving event for the last six years on Maine Day to raise awareness about pediatric cancer and to help raise funds for pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, said master of ceremonies Daniel Norwood. This year nearly $15,000 was raised at the event where 60 local students and residents shaved their heads, he said.
“Every three minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer and one in five children will not survive,” Julianna Sclafani, who lost her brother, Mikey, in March 2013, told the crowd.
She said she is at the University of Maine studying to becoming a biomedical engineer so she “can find a cure for neuroblastoma,” the type of cancer that took his life. Sclafani also started a foundation, The Mikey Effect, to honor her brother and support others fighting childhood cancer.
Not all of the participants were UMaine students. Old Town residents Gene Pratt and Jody Loper, who are known locally for playing Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, were in the second round of shavees. The couple raised $500 for the cause.
“I have a cousin whose friend’s child is dealing with an extremely difficult case of cancer and my mother died of cancer,” Pratt said.
He said after meeting the ailing child, who is named Kenzie, “you just know you can do something,” Pratt said, sitting in a wheelchair in his Santa suit before his head and beard were shaved.
“It’s really freaking me out but it’s nothing compared to chemo,” Jody Loper said as her graying hair was shaved off for the first time in her life.
The head shaving was just one community fundraiser during the annual Maine Day student barbecue, held at the steam plant parking lot. The International Honor Society had a dunk tank, Delta Tau Delta had a car bash (hitting a car with a sledgehammer) to raise funds to help beat juvenile diabetes, and UMaine athletes were holding a bone marrow drive, among other events.