Students and staff at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell cut and shaved their hairdos for dollars during their annual celebration of St. Baldrick’s Day held on Feb. 26, a charity event in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and pediatric cancer research. The Zucker School of Medicine team exceeded its fundraising goal of $10k with $12,459 in contributions.
During the event, a total of fourteen participants either cut and donated their long locks for the cause or braved the complete head shave like Zucker School of Medicine faculty member Shannon Knutson.
“Hair is hair, it will grow back,” said Knutson, instructor of anatomical and structural sciences. “I want to do this to stand with people who are undergoing cancer treatment; they don’t have a choice about keeping or losing their hair. I am glad to be able to show support in this way.”
In their eighth year of fundraising for St. Baldrick’s, Zucker School of Medicine hosts a “pre-shave” event in advance of Hofstra University’s official campus-wide celebration to take place on Apr. 8, marking the university’s 12th year of participation in the charity. In 2019, Hofstra raised more than $28k for St. Baldrick’s with the Zucker School of Medicine contributing the largest amount to the campus collection pot.
“I’m a medical school student today because of my experience working with kids with cancer at Sunrise Summer Camp on Long Island,” said top fundraiser, Gabrielle Pollack, a first-year medical student at the Zucker School of Medicine and St. Baldrick’s team leader. “For me, this event is a great way to stay involved and give back.”
The act of head-shaving is meant to show solidarity with kids fighting cancer, many of whom lose their hair during treatment. St. Baldrick’s Day shave participants raise funds leading up to the charity event which is donated to support pediatric oncology research. The medical school also participates in Children with Hair Loss, a nonprofit organization that offers human hair replacement to children at no cost.
It’s not too late to donate to St. Baldrick’s! Please show your support and help us help kids with cancer by visiting St. Baldrick’s-Team Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine.
Submitted by the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
