Less than a week after members of the Notre Dame community raised money for the American Cancer Society at Relay for Life, students are shaving their heads, cutting their hair and purchasing hair extensions to further support cancer research.
The Bald and the Beautiful (TBAB) fundraiser will begin today at 4 p.m. and run until 10 p.m. in the Sorin and Dooley Rooms of the LaFortune Student Center, TBAB co-chair Betsy McGovern said. It will continue Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
"I am reminded over and over how innately generous and giving people are," McGovern said. "Local stylists donate hours of their time over the event's three days and continue to thank us for letting them participate."
TBAB is the largest service event at Notre Dame, McGovern said. Proceeds from the event support St. Baldrick's Foundation, Memorial Hospital of South Bend and Pantene Beautiful Lengths, a partnership between Pantene and the American Cancer Society.
McGovern, a senior, said this year's goal is to raise $50,000 and donate more than 100 ponytails to Pantene Beautiful Lengths. Anyone who wants to shave his or her head must donate a minimum of $10, she said. Participants may also purchase hair extensions for $10 or donate eight inches of their hair.
Sophomore Claire Kucela shaved her head last year after losing her aunt and her friend's dad to cancer. She said she joined the TBAB committee this year to involve more girls in the fundraising process.
Six girls registered to shave their heads this year, McGovern said. Kucela said people are more willing to donate to a girl who shaves her head.
Co-chair Abbie Naus, a senior, said 12 community sponsors and children from Memorial Hospital will attend this year's event.
"I am excited to see the South Bend community become integrated into Notre Dame's," Naus said.
McGovern said a local salon, Sport Clips, was particularly helpful to the TBAB committee during the planning process.
"SportsClips has been especially giving with not only its time, but also through its own fundraising measures in the salon,"she said. "They've even offered their personal connection to WSBT radio to have our event advertised in Michiana."
McGovern said she encourages people to participate in TBAB to raise money for cancer research.
"I invite my fellow students, members of the Notre Dame and South Bend community, and supporters of the fight against cancer to come to TBAB and help us accomplish our goals this year,"she said.
Contact CharithaIsanaka at cisanaka@nd.edu
