Bald Was Beautiful Here Saturday Afternoon

Hundreds of people crowded into downtown Saturday to watch their friends--and several community leaders--lose their hair and raise more than $50,000 for childhood cancer research in Clayton's first St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraising event.

The line of bald heads included bankers, businessmen, sports figures, firemen, policemen and public officials, including Councilman Michael Grannis and Town Manager Steve Biggs.

"I don't look so bad bald," Grannis said, though he donned a baseball cap after a few minutes. "What great fun this has been, and what a great crowd out here watching. And what a great cause."

Comets Football Coach Gary Fowler, seeming a little jumpy as the clippers hovered above his head, was the first in line at 3 pm, followed by several dozen more as the cutting continued into the evening hours. Rain threatened the event all day long and once caused a short break, but the shearing continued as the pile of hair on the ground grew larger and larger.

Clayton's fundraising goal of $35,000 had already been reached days ago, but more and more contributions came in all day long.

"I'm very proud of the people of Clayton," Grannis said. "For us to raise so much money for cancer research is teriffic. I'm very proud to be a part of this community."

The event was the idea of local businessman Rob Baker, whose son Bo was diagnosed in February with a form of kidney cancer. He said being thrust into the world of cancer treatment and research "has been quite an eye opener" and led him to take more of an active role in helping children stricken with the disease.

Local barbers and beauticians did most of the cutting, though occasionally a wife or girlfriend stepped forward as a "guest" barber.

St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity with children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family. In the last nine years, events have taken place in 48 of the 50 states and in 18 countries around the world, raising over $50 million for research, and shaving more than 72,000 heads, including more than 100 in Clayton.

For more information, to get a final tally on money raised or to make a donation, please visit the St. Baldrick's Foundation website at http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.php?EventKey=2009-2327