By Rachel Miller
Students and administrators sat under buzzing razors today, getting their heads shaven in honor of the fourth annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser. The event presented by the Hofstra roller hockey club raised over $16,000 for pediatric cancer research and treatment. Participants shaved their heads in the Student Center on Wednesday to stand in solidarity with children who have lost their hair while undergoing cancer treatment.
“We set a lofty goal at $25,000, which is a little out of our reach, but we really just wanted to double what we did last year, which was about $8,000,” said Thomas Kostiw, event organizer and former member of the roller hockey club. Kostiw helped bring the first St. Baldrick’s Day event to the University in 2008.
Kostiw encouraged everyone in the community to get involved with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation through donating, volunteering or getting their heads shaved.
“The more people that get involved, the more awareness there is and the more money we can raise to help save some lives,” said Kostiw.
Bobby Menges, a freshman at Garden City High School and a pediatric cancer survivor, raised almost $3,000 for the cause.
“When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, and when I didn’t have hair, I felt as though I was missing something that was very important, like an arm,” said Menges.
He now hopes that children who have lost their hair will be less self-conscious when they see photographs of the shaved participants who support them.
“Cancer is the leading disease killer of children in the country, and we need to do everything we can to try to eradicate it and prevent it,” said Dean of Students Peter Libman, who shaved his head and has helped the roller hockey club promote the event.
Libman was one of five administrators placed on a “wanted” poster that promoted the event.
“We got four out of five,” said Kostiw. “The only one we didn’t get was Provost Berliner, but we’ll come get him next year.”
Berliner agreed to shave his head if the event raised $25,000.
