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UNCG baseball to participate in St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s BaseBald initiative
GREENSBORO, N.C. – BaseBald, the latest program of the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research, will host one of its signature head-shaving events at UNCG baseball stadium on April 20 following the Spartans' game against Davidson. Players, coaches and fans will shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer and raise money for life-saving children's cancer research.
More than 160,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer each year, and it remains the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States. With only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, St. Baldrick's Foundation grant funds are critical to continue the battle against the disease.
In 2010, the University of North Carolina hosted the first BaseBald event, organized by childhood cancer survivor Chase Jones. After being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at age 18, Jones spearheaded the event for two years, recruiting his fellow UNC baseball teammates. In 2011, Jones brought BaseBald to the St. Baldrick's Foundation as a new fundraising initiative and is leading the program with a goal of getting baseball teams, coaches and fans everywhere involved in the cause to support life-saving childhood cancer research.
The St. Baldrick's Foundation is committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The Foundation funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. St. Baldrick's funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow.
Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, a child's best hope for a cure. Since the Foundation's first grants as an independent charity in 2005, it has funded more than $78 million in childhood cancer research. For more information about St. Baldrick's, call 1-888-899-BALD or visit StBaldricks.org.
This will be the inaugural event for UNCG. Other schools such as College of Charleston and Furman will represent the Southern Conference in participating in the event. ACC representatives include NC State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. UNCG set a goal to raise $1,000 for the cause and has already raised $940. Sport Clips will provide the barbers for the event.
To start a team, donate, or designate as a shavee, email Dacia Ijames at dnijames@uncg.edu or visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/8183/2012.
- UNCG -
