Three local boys went bald for a cause recently at a St. Baldrick’s event at Dave & Buster’s in Westbury.
Fourteen-year-old Nick Avila and 13-year-old Michael Bock and Chris Benson shaved their locks to help raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.
“We don’t mind doing it, in fact I love shaving my head because I know I am doing a good thing,” said Bock, who has participated in the head-shaving event for three years straight. “I told Chris and Nick about it and they were excited about getting their hair cut off for a good cause.”
Getting his head shaved was a first-time experience for Avila, who is a freshman at West Hempstead High School.
“My grandfather died from cancer two years ago and I’m doing it in his honor,” said Avila. “I’m not concerned about what the other kids think about me walking into school with a shaved head because I know I did it for a good cause.”
John O’Brien, the Hicksville School District’s district clerk, organized the event and has been instrumental in raising money for St. Baldrick’s over the last several years.
“These are fun events where we can get the young and the old involved and raise some money for a great cause,” said O’Brien. “This charity is so special because childhood cancers are underfunded and all the money raised goes to cancer research and supportive care.”
O’Brien, who grew up in Rockville Centre, has hosted events in his hometown and gotten friends involved to help in raising donations. “I started doing it at a local bar in Rockville Centre and got my head shaved on a lark and a couple of my friends joined in with me. There is a large sense of community when you put these type of events together,” said O’Brien.
O’Brien added that the district staff was very generous in donating funds for the cause.
“We received a lot of donations from inside the district,” he said. “So far we’ve raised $1,500 from the administrative staff alone but the real donations come in after the events are over.”
Hicksville Interim School Superintendent, Dr. Carl Bonuso, who attended the event, said the Hicksville family was here doing something nice for the community at large.
“We want to show that the Hicksville school model is about caring,” said Dr. Bonuso. “We want to show not only the importance of intellect but heart. This event is a great example of the passion and care we facilitate day in and day out.”
