Dozens shave heads to raise money for cancer research

Fourty-three children are diagnosed with cancer every single day, so hundreds of Mid-Missourians came out to raise money to help them Saturday.

A group of University of Missouri students held their fifth annual fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation to raise money for research on childhood cancer.

“These fundraisers are really successful because there’s not much that’s more important than pediatric cancer,” volunteer event organizer Austin Ostermeyer said. “We’ve raised $170,000 over five years.”

This year alone at first count, they’ve raised another $29,000. Ostermeyer said that number will be finalized on Monday and they expect it to be even higher.

There were 45 people who signed up to get their heads shaved, but several others walked in and did it as well. For some, it was easy. But for others, there were some deep breaths taken as the razor came close.

High-school student Dalton Nunamakei was a little anxious before.

“I’m nervous and excited,” he said. “But I just want to help out in any way I can.”

Grad student Xin Tont felt similarly.

“I was scared before but not now,” she said. “I feel great doing this, like really!”