Head-shaving fundraiser gives $1.2M to Cleveland child cancer research

CLEVELAND — Thousands have shaved their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
 
And when Fox 8’s Kenny Crumpton and Scott Sabol got their shave on this morning, one viewer donated $1,000 to the organization.
 
“We shave our heads in solidarity with the kids who lose their hair from the chemotherapy,” said Peter Richer, who organizes one of the largest fundraisers in Cleveland. “And Kenny Crumpton, you know, bang, $1,000. Right on the air this morning, somebody hits him for $1,000. You know, it’s incredible.”
 

Richer brought the St. Baldrick’s event to the city in 2003, not long after his son, Pearce, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
 
“There is a new child diagnosed with cancer every three-and-a-half minutes around the world. Every three-and-a-half minutes, which is just unbelievable,” he said. “That adds up to about 160,000 kids a year. It’s very important. Who knows how many are undiagnosed.”
 
Cleveland was one of the first cities in the country to host a St. Baldrick’s head-shaving fundraiser.
 
“There are a lot of charitable people in this world,” he said. “I get phone calls from people out of the woodwork of how they can help and contribute to this. It’s unbelievable.”
 
This year, the group expects to raise more than $300,000. Over the past 10 years, locals have raised $1.7 million for the foundation.
 
Richer said the donations in Cleveland go back to the national foundation. The money is used to support cancer research for children, which he said is often overlooked.
 

The money is used to finance research, scholarships, fellowships, internships for cancers that affect children.
 
A good amount of that money, Richer said, makes its way back to Cleveland.
 
“The foundation allocates those resources to the best and highest use around the country,” Richer said. “Well, guess what? We just happen to have a phenomenal medical center here in Cleveland. “They have received $1.2 million in grants here in Cleveland Ohio over at Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital as a result of St. Baldricks.”