Four WSLH staffers spent their lunch breaks on July 12th supporting childhood cancer research and getting new summer hair-do’s.
Kathleen Cleary and Mark Conklin (Purchasing), Blake Speaker (Building Services) and Steve Marshall (Administration) had their heads shaved as a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers. Erin McCarthy (Cytology) handled shaving duties.
St. Baldrick’s is currently funding more than $2 million of pediatric cancer research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The WSLH staffers are just one of the Madison-area Shave to Save teams. The other “shavees” will get clipped on Saturday, June 14th at Hilldale Mall in Madison.
In addition to shaving her WSLH colleagues’ heads, McCarthy is a volunteer coordinator for the main Madison event.
“Many people don’t realize how underfunded pediatric oncology research really is. Only about 4% of U.S. federal funding for cancer research goes towards pediatrics, and funding for drug development from pharmaceutical companies is essentially non-existent. Raising money for St. Baldrick’s is one way to help fill this gap,” McCarthy said. “The head shaving event has been a great opportunity to make a financial impact and bring attention to the issue, while also showing support and solidarity for patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. I’m so excited and thankful to have an awesome team from WSLH joining in the fun!”
The Madison Shave to Save event will also feature a silent auction and raffle with proceeds directly benefiting patient care at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center.
The WSLH team BEFORE: Seated: Kathleen Cleary. Standing from left: Erin McCarthy, Mark Conklin, Steve Marshall and Blake Speaker.
WSLH Henry Mall Building Manager Blake Speaker said that his Grandpa used to shave his and his brothers’ heads every summer when they were kids.
WSLH Purchasing Office Operations Associate Kathleen Cleary smiles while losing her locks. Kathleen said shaving her head to raise money for childhood cancer research was an easy thing to do. “It’s just hair,” she explained.
WSLH Interim Deputy Director Steve Marshall is excited to help raise money for childhood cancer research and get a low-maintenance summer hairstyle all at the same time.
WSLH Purchasing Manager Mark Conklin decided that since he was having his hair shaved off, he would have fun with it for a few days and dyed it red last weekend.
The WSLH team AFTER: Seated: Kathleen Cleary. Standing from left: Erin McCarthy, Mark Conklin, Steve Marshall and Blake Speaker.