OSWEGO COUNTY – Shavees, barbers, and supporters will gather to raise funds for life-saving childhood cancer research once again this year. The 2024 St. Baldrick’s Day in Oswego County will return to the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center on Sunday, March 24 and “Brave the Shave” in an effort to Conquer Kids’ Cancer.
Volunteer Event Organizer Dan Witmer has overseen the previous 17 fundraisers, starting when he was the head coach of the Oswego State men’s lacrosse team. The event grew from a team-building community relations project to a County-wide event.
“We’ve had tremendous support from all corners of Oswego County over the years. High school and college sports teams, youth teams, County Sheriffs and State Police, Oswego and Fulton firefighters and police, teams of friends and family of sick children, school districts from all over the County. Last year, thanks to St. Baldrick’s planning committee member and Oswego HS track and field coach Dom Pike, we had a big home meet become a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, and that event alone raised more than $7500. Local businesses have also been very generous with donations for our raffles and silent auction.”
Over the 17-year span, Oswego’s St. Baldrick’s events have raised an astounding $989,587, which leaves the tally just $10,413 shy of the million-dollar mark. “We were hoping we might reach that milestone last year, but we came up short, raising ‘only’ $63,000 instead of $73,000,” Witmer explained. “Hard to say we failed, but we’ll get it done this year, most likely before the first shavee even sits in a chair.”
Witmer and his committee members are always looking for new faces and fresh ideas; anyone interested in joining the planning committee should contact him at [email protected].
But even more importantly, shavees and fundraising teams are needed. “You don’t have to shave your head to raise money for St. Baldrick’s… but it helps,” laughs Witmer. “I’ve shaved every year since 2007, sometimes more than once a year, and it always grows back in a couple months. But you can also register on the website as a fundraising participant, and you can join or form your own fundraising teams. That’s where the donations tend to accumulate.”
Worldwide, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised more than $340 million for research grant funding since its start in 2005.
To register, donate, volunteer, or just learn more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, go to 18th annual St. Baldrick’s Day in Oswego County! | A St. Baldrick’s Event (stbaldricks.org).
missing or outdated ad config