SAUSD STUDENTS AND STAFF SHAVE THEIR HEADS, RAISE $12,500 TO HELP FIND A CURE TO CHILDHOOD CANCERS
Participants raised various amounts of money – from $10 to upwards of $1,000 – for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research.
As part of the effort, participants asked their donors one simple question: How much money would you donate to conquer kids’ cancers to see me shave my head?
Shayna Lathus, a teacher at the school and event organizer, said the Carr community raised more than $12,500 during the fundraiser and added that donations are still rolling in.
This year, Carr dedicated the event to two former Carr students, both of whom are in remission from childhood cancers.
“I hope that my students and my colleagues get the sense that they are truly making a difference,” said Lathus, whose mother died from cancer 15 years ago. “To know that we are making a difference and that now people are living instead of dying with certain types of cancers just really makes you feel good.”
Student Juan Carlos Olivera was among those who had his head shaved today. He raised $159 with the help of family and friends, and said he did so to help other children.
“I just wanted to do this because one of my friend’s sisters died of cancer,” he said.
Like Olivera, many Carr students raised more than $100 each, and did so by collecting change, soliciting donations in their neighborhoods, and launching online donation web pages.