Scalps were bared and hair rained to the ground in the Student Center Pit last Saturday as Rowan held its annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser.

The event raises money and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer…and, of course, shaves a lot of heads.

Friends and family gathered in the pit and tried to reach a $40,000 goal. Participants agreed to have their heads shaved, and donations could be given in their name to help patients with pediatric cancer.

St. Baldrick’s is the second highest fundraiser for international pediatric cancer research, second only to the US government.

In addition to the main stage where heads were shaved, there were also raffles, photo-booths and a station giving out free hats donated by Amazon.

No matter the motivation, groups of people went up on stage to get their heads shaved.

Although all volunteers left with the same hairstyle, everyone had a different reason to donate their money and their hair.

Zachary Goldberg, a junior advertising major, donated because of his family’s history with cancer.

“I’m shaving today because of my aunt,” Goldberg said. “She was diagnosed a few years ago and was really the first direct contact I had in my family with cancer. And my grandpa, who I never got to meet, died from skin cancer.”

Goldberg also explained that he plans on returning next year and will continue to participate in the event until he leaves Rowan.

However, not all donors at the event were Rowan students.

Ken Andrews, 47 , was included in a special group of donors who have donated to St. Baldrick’s for at least ten years. Although he doesn’t have any direct family that drives his need to donate, he still participates in the event every year.

“I just have so many friends who have lost people to cancer,” Andrews said. “It’s just the big evil out there and if I can get rid of that and fight against that, it would be great.”

St. Baldrick’s ultimately raised $11,000 during the event, with the Student Center and Campus Activities group raising $2,700.

Joe Frascella, a sophomore communication studies major and the SCCA’s incoming director of charitable events, not only shaved his head and beard, but also raised $816, the second highest amount raised by an individual.

“It started out as something me and my friends thought would be great to do,” Frascella said. “Getting involved, we thought it would be fun and in raising money we realized what a good cause it is. It’s a tradition we began and we will continue to be here throughout our college careers.”

This is Frascella’s second time participating in St. Baldricks day and he will be the one organizing the event next year.

“All the money goes towards the families and the research,” Frascella said. “This foundation is amazing to work with. Their main goal is to help other people, and that’s why I love what they do.”

For comments/questions about this story, email features@thewhitonline.com or tweet @TheWhitOnline.