Dozens of Centreville-area residents got their heads shaved Saturday at a special charity event that raised more than $30,000 for childhood cancer research.
More than 200 people jammed into a local hotspot, , in Trinity Post Plaza off of Lee Highway, to participate in the fund-raising event sponsored by the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The California charity has raised more than $90 million for childhood cancer research in the last decade.
The annual event has become something of a community tradition for Fast Eddie’s which regularly plays host, bringing in face-painters and an animal-balloon maker while putting the head-shaving crew on the stage normally reserved for rock or country bands. Among the participants, Sully District County Supervisor Michael Frey stopped by and had his head shaved.
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“It’s a fun event,” said Meg Crossett, a St. Baldrick’s volunteer who lost her daughter to cancer 10 years ago.
“People can have fun getting their head shaved,” said Crossett, of Virginia Run, “while raising money for a good charity and showing solidarity with the kids who are being treated for cancer.”
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Kyle Stohmack, 16, a cancer survivor, came with his mom and dad, Martin and Ingrid, to the event. The Centreville teen was first diagnosed with cancer about five years ago and then had a re-occurrence last year, Ingrid said. He just finished up his last round of treatment and things are looking better, Ingrid said.
“He really wanted to come and show his support,” Ingrid said. “We just try to live our lives to their fullest and take it one day at a time.”
Sean Byars, of Reston, brought a bunch of friends and co-workers to participate and get their heads shaved.
“We’ve been coming here for a couple of years,” Byars said. “It’s great that all the money goes for childhood cancer research and it’s a pretty easy charity to support.”
Bennett Raba, 9, a South Riding third-grader, got his head shaved with his father Matt. They raised more than $1,000 for St. Baldrick's.
“When I told my class that I was going to get my head shaved, they were all, like, ‘cool’ and ‘where can I go to do that,’” Bennett said.
