Dozens Lose Hair in Ulster County

On Sunday, March 5, dozens of people lost their hair in Ulster County. The individuals that have experienced the rapid hair loss are not alarmed, just elated.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation, since the year 2000, has held an annual fundraiser that encourages participants to raise money in advance of getting their heads shaved. Why? The foundation, founded by a few friends, raises money to help fund childhood cancer research. It's a very successful foundation that has raised over 200 million dollars for the cause since its inception.

Participants agree to gather pledges prior to the mass head-shaving event that takes place in March. The drive is very popular among first responders. The Ulster County event had over 20 volunteer firefighters from Ulster Hose Company #5 participate along with 4 career firefighters from the City of Kingston Fire Department.

According to Patrick Rose, a career firefighter from Kingston, representing the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 461 (IAFF), "nobody deserves to get cancer, let alone an innocent child. I wanted to do what's in my power to help the children that have to suffer through this."

Rose personally raised $700 and his 3 coworkers raised another $800 to help find a cure for childhood cancer.

The actual head-shaving event took place on March 5th at the Senior Center in Saugerties. In addition to the Kingston IAFF members, volunteer firefighters from Ulster Hose Co. #5, that protect the town of Ulster area around the Hudson Valley Mall, raised around $8,000 for the cause.

More information about the foundation can be found at www.stbaldricks.org