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March 28, 2024

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Spring Housing Guide

Student shave, cut their hair to raise money for charity that raises money to go toward research for childhood cancer

University alumna Jodi Roszman fought tears as she thanked the crowds of students and volunteers at the third annual Shave-a-Thon for their support in fighting childhood cancer, a battle her son Sammy has been fighting since the age of 4.

St. Baldrick’s charity raises money to go toward research for childhood cancer, which affects more than 175,000 children per year according to stbaldricks.org. On Sunday, Jan. 25, students gathered with the Office of Residence Life and National Residence Hall Honorary to host the third annual Shave-a-Thon.

Students, volunteers and community members could shave their heads completely or donate their hair to Pantene Beautiful Lengths to make wigs. The event raised a total of $14,300.17, down from their original goal of $23,000 as of Sunday; however, donations are still coming in.

The number of ponytails donated to make wigs more than doubled from last year’s total of 48, with 104 ponytails donated — enough to make 13 wigs — to Pantene Beautiful Lengths and 126 people who had their heads completely shaved.

Vice President of Service for National Residence Hall Honorary and Event Chairman Molly Fessel said this is her third year being a part of the Shave-a-Thon. After presenting, she was the first person to have their head shaved to start the day.

“I’ve been involved since the beginning in 2012,” said Fessel. “I remember the night after getting my head shaved; I looked in the mirror and remember thinking that, that was the first time I felt beautiful because I could look past just looks on the outside.”

Since 2012 the annual event has seen more than 280 heads shaved at the University.

Jill Carr, vice president of student affairs, said the event speaks greatly about the student community.

“There are many stereotypes surrounding college students, but the students here have such a willingness to be selfless and give to something larger than themselves,” Carr said.

Shaving your head symbolizes a support system for those affected with cancer, marketing coordinator Alexa Woodburn said.

“What [these kids] see is someone else that looks like them; it’s about standing in solidarity with children,” Woodburn said.

Children who lose their hair to chemotherapy often experience alienation, being bullied and feeling uncomfortable with their friends and peers, Fessel said.

“I shave my head to stand in solidarity, but to also show a sense of hope for those affected,” Fessel said.

According to stbaldricks.org, only two new drugs have been developed in the last 20 years to treat children with cancer and less than four percent of the National Cancer Institute’s budget is directed toward childhood cancer research, though the number of children diagnosed keeps growing.

Sammy Roszman, now 10 years old, is still in the midst of his battle.

After undergoing an MRI in December of 2008 Sammy was diagnosed with a tumor that affected his brain and spinal cord capabilities. After years of chemotherapy treatments the Roszman family did not see any success until 2010, when the tumor began to shrink. Today, Sammy’s tumor is still there, but in a stable condition.

“He’s been through too much from such a young age. It’s like he’s never really known of a time when he didn’t have cancer,” Roszman said during her presentation. “But even after everything, he’s always smiling, but we still want a cure; we need a cure. [These children] don’t deserve this.”

The Roszman family was just one of a handful of families that were honored at the event that gave many students and community members the motivation to participate.

“It means so much that so many wonderful people care for the cause and stand with these children,” Roszman said.

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