Osborn Hill School will once again transform into a makeshift barbershop one night in March for the annual St. Baldrick's event.
Fairfield's Cub Scout Pack 199 will host the event on Friday, March 22, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Participants shave their heads in exchange for donations to go toward the St. Baldrick's Foundation for pediatric cancer research. In 2012, the foundation raised $33,492,165 via St. Baldrick events -- and approximately $100,000 of that total came from the Osborn Hill shave-a-thon.
For the third year running, friends, family, will remember former Osborn Hill student Teddy Gerber.
Teddy was a third grader when he was diagnosed with undifferentiated sarcoma -- a rare, aggressive form of pediatric cancer -- in November 2009. He died in August 2010.
During his treatment, Teddy attended Cub Scout Pack 199's St. Baldrick's event for the first time and was the event's honoree.
"He had been so self-conscious about losing his hair from his chemo, but that night, surrounded by friends and family who now were bald like him, he was happy," Gerber said.
After Teddy died, more donations poured into the St. Baldrick's Foundation in Teddy's name and the St. Baldrick's event at Osborn Hill School became a financial success: in 2011 and 2012, the Fairfield fundraiser raised a total of $150,000.
It has also become a way to for people who knew and loved Teddy to cherish his memory, Gerber said.
Teddy was chosen last year to be one of five "Ambassador Kids" for the St. Baldrick's event. His story received national attention after his former teacher, Kristin Golia, was a "Top Teacher" finalist on "Live with Kelly!"
"This year, we continue to hope that any time people hear his story, they will realize how little is done to help cure pediatric cancer, and how much more needs to be done to ensure that no child, and no family, will have to endure what Teddy and our family endured," Gerber said.
Those interested in joining celebrating the memory of Teddy and raising money for pediatric cancer can volunteer to have their heads shaved in exchange for donation -- or just join the fun on March 22, sans shaving.
There will be a bake sale, dinner supplied by Super Duper Weenie, face painting, raffle baskets, a cupcake walk, and more.
"It’s a fun, celebratory night that raises money for an invaluable cause," Gerber said.
For more details about this year's St. Baldrick's night, check out the Facebook event. The Gerber family has put togther "Team Teddy" -- join by clicking here.
