March 2017 – BALLYDOYLE IRISH PUB, DOWNERS GROVE
Got hair? Got long beautiful hair? Even if you don’t, are you willing to shave it all off? How about if in doing so, you raised critical funds for childhood cancer research?
On March 14th (7pm), Ballydoyle Irish Pub will be hosting its 8th annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation Shaving Event. The stage will be set up with three barbers/beauticians to shave participant’s locks.
“Each person who gets their head shaved is encouraged to inspire friends and family to pledge donations to support the foundation,” says Phil Cullen, Ballydoyle Irish Pub owner. “Last year they raised over $80,000 in one night!”
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has funded more than $200 million in childhood cancer research grants including many local Chicago institutions like University of Illinois Chicago and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. “These grants,” says Anja Kloch, Chief Development Officer for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, “help give more kids access to clinical trials, train the next generation of pediatric oncologists, and fund specific childhood cancer research projects.”
The head-shaving events began as a challenge between businessmen and have grown from one event in 2000 to over 1200 events in 2016. Events take place in pubs, restaurants, schools, churches, parks, malls and more. “We currently have more than 150 St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events set to take place in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs,” says Kloch. So, if you can’t make the fun at Ballydoyle the week of St. Patrick’s Day, you can probably find another Chicagoland event to participate in.
Phil Cullen likes to make his Ballydoyle event feel like a big party for the neighborhood. “You have to be there to see and feel the sense of community that night,” claims Phil. “It makes you proud to live and work in Downers Grove. We all know someone touched with cancer, and we become a place where people can gather to help the fight.”
If you would like to get involved as a “shavee” or a donor at Ballydoyle or another event in the western suburbs, just go to www.stbaldricks.org/events and search the towns near you.
Mindy’s March Giving Inspiration: Show someone that it’s not just the Irish that get lucky in March. Pay for the person behind you in the drive-up or walk-in coffee line.
ABOUT THE WRITER Mindy Kyle is the owner of Be Inspired Studios and is passionate about helping people discover what brings them joy and to live a full, healthy and happy life. She has her Masters in Fine Arts degree in creative writing from DePaul University and lives in Naperville with her husband, three children and the cutest dog in the land.
