On a sunny St. Patrick’s Day, passersby may have noticed the sea of green in the Sower Village Shopping Center off Nokesville Road. Happy children were getting their faces painted, or playing with four-leaf clover noisemakers. However, with closer inspection, onlookers were surprised to see so many people, especially the young men, with freshly shaved bald heads.
Fifty plus “shavees” signed up to have their heads shaved on Mar. 17 in the parking lot of the Bristow Chick-Fil-A. These participants then donated their sponsor-generated funds to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit foundation which funds research for pediatric cancer. St. Baldrick’s holds most of its events in coordination with St. Patrick’s Day and asks participants to shave their heads for the cause, to emphasize with cancer patients who lost their hair to chemo, radiation and certain surgeries.
The event began at 11 a.m. with presentation of the national and state flags by the Prince William County Police Honor Guard, and a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace,” by Kim Scrogen. Marsteller Middle School student, Nathaniel Owens, sang the "Star Spangled Banner."
Next, Master of Ceremonies, Tara Wheeler, anchorwoman for Channel 19 in Charlottesville, Va, introduced the guest speakers. Wheeler, who served as Miss Virginia in 2008, has made childhood cancer one of her favorite causes, and even shaved her head after the Miss America pageant.
“I was supposed to be this epitome of beauty. I thought it was a great strategy to show that beauty is a lot more than your hair,” she said.
Guest speaker, Robert H. Clapper, President and CEO of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce reminded the crowd of the vital research which St. Baldrick’s supports, and that their research may provide relief to future generations of children.
Sharon Henry, Director of the Spark Education Foundation, thanked the participants, and reminded folks of the large number of children in the community affected by pediatric cancer.
Honored Child of the event, Emily Ringham, an eighth grader at Marsteller Middle School and Ruri-Teen officer was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008. Although she is cancer-free today, she has had to relearn many basic motor skills.
Tearing up, Emily asked her father, Kevin Ringham, to say a few words.
“Emily’s one of the lucky ones. She had one of the best outcomes you can ask for her type of cancer,” Ringham said.
When it was Emily’s turn to speak, she thanked St. Baldrick’s and the participants for making a direct impact in the lives of kids.
“I don’t want anyone else to have to go through what I went through,” Emily told the audience. “We’re changing lives, and that means so much to me.”
After the introductions, the stylists opened the shaving area.
“We started doing it last year, because Emily was one of our clients. Yearly, we do a fundraiser, but this one is close to our hearts,” said Kate Herzig, owner of Jolie Laide Salon in Bristow.
Jolie Laide stylists Jana Murray, Taffy Gano, Jaci Watson and Jackie Carrico volunteered their time on this busy business Saturday.
Seven-year-old Tomas Rivera was among one of the first to have his head shaved.
[/caption] “When I go back to school on Monday, people are going to say, ‘what did you do?” said Rivera.
Four-year-old Sophie Johnson had never had a hair cut before but wanted to help sick children. Jolie Laide stylists cut both Sophie’s and mom, Teresa’s long hair. Both plan to donate to Locks for Love, which creates wigs for cancer patients.
“What you’re doing means a lot to me,” Emily Ringham told the little girl.
Josh Hinkle, a fourteen year old and member of the Nokesville Ruritans, had his head shaved in remembrance of his family friend, Riley Spiering, who died of a rare form of acute myelogenous leukemia in 2010 at the age of twelve.
His mother, Sharon Hinkle, said she knew the Spiering family for approximately 20 years, and Riley was the youngest of five boys in the family.
Marsteller Ruri-Teen Club member Kimmie Keener volunteered her time at the event. Over the course of the day, Kimmie made cards for St. Jude’s children, helped people sign in and helped clean up at the shaving booths.
“I know Sarah Ringham and her sister Emily since second grade,” said Keener. “I wanted to come out and support them. I joined Ruri-Teens so I could get involved with St. Baldrick’s and all the other events they have.”
Marsteller Ruri-Teen Club members raised more than $5,000 toward's Chick-Fil-A, provided more than 20 volunteers and shavees at the event. They also marketed the event at their school.
Kyle Lorio, CEO of Dominion eWaste and Recycling and Refining, supported St. Baldrick’s by asking people to donate their used technological devices at the St. Baldrick’s event to which Lorio would donate 50 percent of the profits to the foundation.
At another table, Robin Merriman, sr. manager of Stampit Up! helped participants create original cards for St. Jude’s patients for a small donation to St. Baldrick’s.
“Kelly Owens (Director of Marketing for Chick-Fil-A Bristow) is a friend and client of mine. I told Kelly I wanted to be involved this year,” said Merriman .
Children had a good time throughout the afternoon. There were fire trucks and activities tables and balloon animals made by Craig Forster of Craig’s Twist.
Adults could also participate in additional fundraising activities. There was a silent auction for gift baskets and a bake sale, featuring home-baked goods, as well as gourmet cupcakes from Persnickety Cakes in Old Towne Manassas and Confections on Hoadley and 234. Proceeds from sales of Chick-Fil-A food between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day were also donated to the St. Baldrick's Foundation.
Kelly Owens, Marketing Director for Chick-Fil-A Bristow was satisfied with the event.
“It was good. We had a lot of competition because of the Manassas St. Patrick’s Parade, but all in all a good turnout,” said Owens.
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