TeamBrent held their 14th annual Westport edition of the St. Baldrick’s fundraising event for childhood cancer research on Sunday, March 25 at the YMCA. The people that shave their heads get family and friends to sponsor them, raising money for cancer research. Men, women, young and old all shaved their heads at the event.
“I shave because children are our future,” Leverna Ford, a Greenwich resident, said. “Every child should be able to grow old like me and be 51 years old and healthy.”
According to the St. Baldrick’s website, "Before they turn 20, about one in 285 children in the U.S. will have cancer,” And so, through the fundraiser, St. Baldrick’s has funded over $234 million, allowing the foundation to fund more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
TeamBrent was named after Brent McCreesh, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in Sept. of 2004 when he was just two years old. McCreesh’s family decided to get involved with St. Baldricks to help other children with cancer live past their treatment, the same way Brent was able to and presently leads a cancer-free life.
Since then, TeamBrent has raised over $8 million and continues to raise more each day. In addition to raising money, TeamBrent raises awareness for childhood cancer. TeamBrent has also helped others through blood and platelet donations as well.
“The YMCA has held the St. Baldrick’s event the past three years because this is just such a great cause,” Pat Riemersma, CEO of the Westport-Weston YMCA, said. “Whatever way we can give back as a community is truly rewarding.”
Alex Seideman ’20 attended the event because she met Brent when she was in preschool when he was diagnosed, and her family immediately got involved with the charity.
“Both my dad as well as my brothers have shaved their heads for many years and in total our family alone has raised over $100,000,” Seideman said. “Being a part of this charity is so rewarding as it really does help cure cancer that in past years was incurable. It’s an event that I will continue donating to for years.”