Heads shaved, money raised and another successful event at Sachem North
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation and Sachem High School North held their annual school fundraiser on Friday, April 8, 2019.
Sachem and St. Baldrick’s have been working together since 2012 to raise money and awareness for kids with childhood cancer. This year Sachem North raised over $6,000.
“St. Baldrick’s is a really good cause,” said senior Matt Griffin, a captain on the lacrosse tea who will play at Wingate University next year. “I wanted to help spread the word about all the good that this foundation brings. I was excited to get my head shaved this year because it was my first time and my hair was so long. But It makes me feel good that I was able to help children in need, as well as setting a good example for other members of the Sachem community to follow.”
The advisor for Sachem North’s event was Christy Zummo, Spanish teacher at the school.
“We have all been touched by cancer and hosting a St. Baldrick’s event lets the community and those currently fighting cancer know that we are with you and we support you,” she said. “When we do our small part by organizing an event it allows the community to come together for a common goal, to end childhood cancer. Whether you donated money, supported a shavee, had your head shaved or participated in the wacky and silly games we played that day, you were showing your support for all fighting cancer.”
This year, in particular the school chose to honor student Dominick Strebel, who has been battling cancer for the past five years.
Strebel, a 10th grader, has amazing spirit and students and staff chose to create games and activities that reflected his fun loving nature.
Ten of his friends stayed after school each day leading up to the event to plan and create races and challenges for students to participate in while the head shaving was taking place.
“We had one goal and that was to get students laughing and engaged with one another,” said Zummo. “From balloon pop, to potato sack races, scooter races, dizzy bat and a crowd favorite blanket drag, Dom and his friends ran the competitions and even refereed competitive freeze dance. It was a day filled with hilarity, positive energy and most importantly, support and love for one of our own.”
A number of schools across Sachem take part in St. Baldrick’s events throughout March and April.
-Words by Tino Pattigno III
Editor’s Note: Tino Pattigno is a senior at Sachem North
