by David Kwartler
For Be Bold Be Bald, a national event Friday, Nov. 2, hundreds of people across the country will wear bald caps to honor cancer patients and to raise money for cancer research.
Every Wednesday and Friday until the event, senior Kristian Sumner and junior Amber Poirer, the officers of Team P.A.C.T., sell bald caps for five dollars outside the cafeteria during all lunches and after school Thursday.
Those who wish to shave their heads instead of wearing the caps can do so outside the cafeteria during lunch on the day of the event.
“The goal is to get as many people involved to wear the caps, to show support and to raise money,” said Poirer.
Junior Sebastian Barton plans to participate in the event because “it’s for a great cause, and I have many friends whose lives have been affected by the horrible disease.”
During Wednesday homeroom, Team P.A.C.T showed students a video, which Poirer created. The video shows pictures of bald cancer patients undergoing treatment and explains reasons to support cancer research and to wear a bald cap. In addition, the video shows the four steps of Be Bold, Be Bald: purchasing bald caps, finding sponsors to donate, receiving the caps and wearing them Friday, Nov. 2.
In homeroom, students also received flyers with details and a letter students can send to family and friends asking them for a donation.
With the money students earn from wearing bald caps, Team P.A.C.T will donate to Facing Cancer Together, a local organization that offers free educational art and wellness classes, retreats and support groups to families coping with cancer.
According to Poirer, because the organization offers services for free, they are entirely dependent on donations. “They are a wonderful organization located steps away from this school,” said Poirer.
Anyone can donate to Be Bold Be Bald online or by giving money to the Team P.A.C.T. table on the day of the event.
For more information, students can join Team P.A.C.T’s Facebook event page.
“Tigers stick together and support each other, so I’m very hopeful about the outcome of the fundraising,” Poirer said.