*WEB CONTINUATION: This article originally appeared in Volume 105 Issue 3 of our news magazine, Amplifier.

Each year in the U.S., there are an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of zero and 19 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer, and approximately one in 285 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday, according to the American Childhood Cancer Organization. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation looks to combat this problem.

This foundation is a volunteer and donor-powered charity committed to supporting research to find cures for childhood cancer and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Leading up to the assembly, Blake Williams, the Associated Student Body (ASB) adviser, reached out to her brother, a representative for St. Baldrick’s. 

“My brother [has worked with St. Baldrick’s] for 18 years, and he started a small one in West Linn a couple years ago called ‘West Linn Shaves,’” Blake said. “He asked us this year if we would be one of his teams, so we started our own West Linn High School [St. Baldrick’s] team.

On March 20, two representatives from St. Baldrick’s Foundation came to the high school for the spring assembly to shave a select few teachers’ heads and raise awareness for the issue of childhood cancer. 

The first of the representatives was Gavin Williams, the brother of Blake Willaims, an 18-year member of the foundation, high school teacher, and lead organizer of “West Linn Shaves,” a St. Baldrick’s event held at the Willamette Ale and Cider House.

“We do [the fundraiser] at [my] school, and it was an amazing event because it brought the school together in many ways,” Gavin said. “The kids are able to look out and see teachers that shave their heads for support of kids, which I think is pretty powerful because that’s what you do as a teacher. So much of your life is about helping kids. The main thing I want [is] survivors and kids going through it to know that they’re not alone.”

The other representative was Brooke Decker, a barber and 19-year member of the foundation.

“Every year, St. Baldrick’s requires that there are licensed barbers or cosmetologists to do the shaving, and it’s kind of hard to find people who would donate their time on a weekend,” Decker said. “I found out about it 19 years ago, and it just really touched my heart. Every time there’s an event nearby, I want to be there. I want to participate and support childhood cancer research because it’s really important. Cancer touches all of us, and when it happens to a child, it just feels like it’s even worse. I can’t think of a better cause to take time off work and support an organization that needs someone licensed like me and doesn’t really have a large pool of people to choose from to do it every year.”

A major part of the organization’s focus is to make sure that children with cancer don’t feel like they’re alone. A study published by JAMA reported that depression rates among childhood cancer survivors reach as high as 40.8%, significantly more than the 9.6% national average. Additionally, when compared to the general population, childhood cancer survivors have a 1.4 times higher risk of death by suicide.

“For kids to realize we’re all just one uncontrollable diagnosis away from a huge life-changing problem you can’t do anything about, for adults, for peers, for anybody to stand with you and brave the shave and say, ‘This is something I’m willing to do so that you know that you’re not alone,’ that’s an incredibly heartwarming and touching thing,” Decker said. “To have to go through cancer at any age is horrible, but especially when they are worried probably more than any other time in your life, how you look, if you’re accepted, if you fit in, if you’re cool or not.” 

The foundation also appreciates the sacrifice that donors and volunteers make to bring awareness by shaving their heads. Seven teachers volunteered to potentially get their heads shaved, including Joe Kloucek, David Bogert, Glenn Krake, Trevor Menne, Kaleb McKern, Mitchell Rowe, and Brigham Baker.

“It’s everything because it brings perspective,” Gavin said. “So much of high school [is] spent being stuck in the little things and sometimes even the petty things. I think it’s very important for the kids to see that vanity won’t stop these teachers or these people standing up for them, and they don’t have to suffer in silence there. They should be proud of what they’ve gotten through. But ultimately it’s about letting children know that they’re not alone. I think there’s nothing better than seeing the visual representation of a teacher that you care about and respect. It’s hard as you get older. You don’t know if your hair is going to be there forever, so for them to take that step is huge.”

According to Blake Williams, this will not be the last year West Linn holds such an event.

“I think it’s something that will continue from now on,” Blake said. “It’s just really great to have so many people step up and help. The world needs more charity and giving.”

Because many treatments lead to hair loss, there is a stigma attached to it, especially for children who tend to care more about their appearance and fitting in.

“There’s so much focus on things that just don’t matter. It’s something like cancer that’s going to put everything else in perspective,” Decker said. “If you’re healthy, you have a million wishes, and you want your clothes to be cool, your hair to be cool. This is hopefully a lot of people showing sick kids that they’re not alone and that there is a lot of support trying to help them get through this so they can get back to having a million wishes, just like kids should.”