Laura Perenic, a children’s and teen librarian at the Clark County Public Library, will take part in the event as a “shavee” and go completely bald after already raising about $2,500 in pledges for the cause.
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Perenic said she had been contemplating shaving her head for a long time, but decided late last year to start looking up places to donate her locks. She found St. Baldrick’s, the largest private funder of children’s cancer research, and decided to reach out to the organization, as well as Wigs for Kids, an organization from Westlake that provides wigs for children going through cancer treatments.
“I really like the idea of what I’m going to do,” she said. “The money raised will have a ripple effect, and if my hair can go to somebody and help their transition through chemotherapy a little easier, then that just continues that cycle of giving.”
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Perenic said the shock value and resulting dialogue of someone suddenly shaving their head is worth it, even if she might get some stares about her upcoming new look.
“It really is meant to start that conversation, ‘Hey, did you know that every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer,’” she said.
Perenic said she hopes taking part in the event will inspire other people to do the same.
“I definitely have invited other people to be there at the event with me,” she said. “I know my mother is very curious to see how all this turns out.”
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St. Baldrick’s — whose name comes from the combination of “bald” and “St. Patrick” — hosts several similar events across the country to raise money for children’s cancer research, including a televised event this month. Since 1999, the nonprofit organization has raised over $234 million to help find treatments and cures for cancer-stricken children around the world.
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