At least 10 “shavees” will be donating their hair for a good cause Saturday at Parker Junior High School in Flossmoor.
The school is hosting a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser that will help find cures for children with cancer. Persons taking part in the event make funding pledges but also agree to have their heads shaved in solidarity with children who lose their hair while being treated for cancer.
Saturday’s event begins at 9 a.m. in the north gym at 2810 School St. in Flossmoor. Persons can sign up for the event or donate money at www.stbaldricks.org/events/ mypage/13403/2018.
Cindy Farkos, a Parker administrative assistant, is coordinator of the event. She said her daughter Riley, a student at DePaul University, is coming home for the weekend “to help me run the event and to shave alongside me.” Farkos said this will be the third time Riley has shaved her head for St. Baldrick’s. She previously volunteered at Homewood-Flossmoor High School events.
“The second time she did it she asked if I would join her,” Farkos said. “It was a little daunting, but Riley had participated the year before and when I saw how brave she was to do this as a sophomore in high school where image is everything, I was totally inspired.
“I have been donating my hair for years to Locks of Love, but shaving took it to a whole other level. I have been asked since then if I would ever do it again, and I knew I would. I just needed my hair to grow out long enough to donate again.”
This year, Farkos and her daughter decided it was time to again donate their hair for St. Baldrick’s. They discovered that H-F is not hosting an event this year so Farkos decided to host one at Parker.
“I think it sends a powerful message when people, especially kids, shave their heads for this cause,” she said. “A lot of value is placed on looks, and hair in particular in this society. So to go completely bald to help raise awareness for childhood cancer is awesome.”
So far, 10 persons have signed up to have their heads shaved.
Farkos will be assisted at the fundraiser by five Parker staffers acting as committee members — Andrea Chandler, Lisa Weber, Karen Roorda, Mallory Tehako and Sam Lacy. Some Parker students are volunteering to earn service hours. Hair stylists from Cutters for Men in Flossmoor and Artistix in Homewood are donating their time to shave heads at the event.
Farkos called Saturday’s fundraiser “a Parker event” but said everyone in the community is welcome. “They can sign up to shave, donate to the event, or just come to cheer on the shavees.”
The event will include raffle baskets with donated items, a sweets table, bag games and music, she said.