At Victor High School’s homecoming week pep rally last week, students and staff took the celebration to the next level when they teamed up to raise money for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The bold initiative, appropriately called "Goin' Bald for Bucks", was the brainchild of VHS seniors Samantha Palella and Whitney Bishop, who brought the idea to school administrators last spring.
Bishop and Palella and a crew of their classmates had their heads shaved at the Sept. 28 pep rally in front of a gymnasium full of students and teachers. Bishop also donated her hair to "Locks of Love," which provides wigs for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, and sold bracelets as another way of raising money.
“I just want people to know that what I am doing isn't only for those who have fought and are still fighting cancer,” said Bishop. “It's to prove to people that it’s OK to be different and that beauty is inside of you. There are so many people that struggle with cancer and though I haven’t, I know people that have. The fact that in today’s society bullying and judgments are so common that it’s not an easy thing for someone to lose their hair; I want them to know they aren’t alone and people care. We are all beautiful in our own way no matter what anyone says.”
Palella's reason was also deeply personal.
"I did it for my grandpa," she said. "When I was younger my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer and my family was living with him to help take care of him, so I witnessed first hand what cancer can do not only to the person, but the family and loved ones around (them). It was something that has stuck with me throughout my life. He was treated at Roswell so when I found out about Goin' Bald for Bucks it was something I had to do."
According to Principal Yvonne O’Shea, the students and staff at Victor High School raised $4250 by having their heads shaved at the pep assembly, and also donated their hair to "Locks of Love."
To help inspire generosity, a number of staff members had their heads shaved, including School Resource Officer Dyson Williamson, and teachers Chris Schoff, Mike Modleski, Brian Siesto, Stash Merritt, Eric Dahlstrom, Rick Burt, Tom Zaccardo, Ross Hunkovic, Ryan Horst, Dave Denner, Rod Engels, Jeff Onze, Anne Stekl, Shelly Collins and Erica Thompson. As a bonus, John Moore, a favorite custodian among students, had his ponytail cut off.
According to Roswell Park Representative Gabriella Lexer, each participant comes up with a personal fund raising goal and those who raise $100 get a Bald for Bucks T-shirt. For more information visit www.goinbaldforbucks.org.
At Victor High School’s homecoming week pep rally last week, students and staff took the celebration to the next level when they teamed up to raise money for the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The bold initiative, appropriately called "Goin' Bald for Bucks", was the brainchild of VHS seniors Samantha Palella and Whitney Bishop, who brought the idea to school administrators last spring.
Bishop and Palella and a crew of their classmates had their heads shaved at the Sept. 28 pep rally in front of a gymnasium full of students and teachers. Bishop also donated her hair to "Locks of Love," which provides wigs for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, and sold bracelets as another way of raising money.
“I just want people to know that what I am doing isn't only for those who have fought and are still fighting cancer,” said Bishop. “It's to prove to people that it’s OK to be different and that beauty is inside of you. There are so many people that struggle with cancer and though I haven’t, I know people that have. The fact that in today’s society bullying and judgments are so common that it’s not an easy thing for someone to lose their hair; I want them to know they aren’t alone and people care. We are all beautiful in our own way no matter what anyone says.”
Palella's reason was also deeply personal.
"I did it for my grandpa," she said. "When I was younger my grandpa was diagnosed with cancer and my family was living with him to help take care of him, so I witnessed first hand what cancer can do not only to the person, but the family and loved ones around (them). It was something that has stuck with me throughout my life. He was treated at Roswell so when I found out about Goin' Bald for Bucks it was something I had to do."
According to Principal Yvonne O’Shea, the students and staff at Victor High School raised $4250 by having their heads shaved at the pep assembly, and also donated their hair to "Locks of Love."
To help inspire generosity, a number of staff members had their heads shaved, including School Resource Officer Dyson Williamson, and teachers Chris Schoff, Mike Modleski, Brian Siesto, Stash Merritt, Eric Dahlstrom, Rick Burt, Tom Zaccardo, Ross Hunkovic, Ryan Horst, Dave Denner, Rod Engels, Jeff Onze, Anne Stekl, Shelly Collins and Erica Thompson. As a bonus, John Moore, a favorite custodian among students, had his ponytail cut off.
According to Roswell Park Representative Gabriella Lexer, each participant comes up with a personal fund raising goal and those who raise $100 get a Bald for Bucks T-shirt. For more information visit www.goinbaldforbucks.org.
