“Bald is beautiful” was the phrase of the evening at the third annual St. Baldrick’s Cure Kids Cancer Gala last Friday evening at the Bent Pine Golf Club, where guests gathered to support childhood cancer research in hopes of conquering the devastating disease. According to representatives of the nonprofit, cancer claims the lives of more children in the United States than any other illness.
“Tonight we will party like there is no tomorrow so we can give these kids their tomorrow,” said event co-chair Missy Elward.
Guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while perusing close to 100 silent-auction items and visiting with Rocky, a kangaroo from Extreme Animals who made the rounds, melting hearts one belly rub at a time.
Later, guests got into a fierce live-auction bidding war over colorful children’s crayon art, and Jasmine Rivera surprised everyone by having her head shaved, raising more than $1,000 as her lovely locks were shorn.
Dr. Don Eslin, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist at the Arnold Palmer Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders, spoke to the disparity in research funding.
“People don’t realize that we are underfunded. The largest funding comes from the federal government, but if you look at that compared to funding that goes to adult cancer research, it’s very small,” said Eslin, noting that only 4 percent of federal funding is dedicated to childhood cancer research.
Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s nationwide has provided $200 million in research grant funding, making it the largest childhood cancer research funder.
“I hope someday they will be able to put me out of business,” said Eslin.
Jayme and Val Bryan, whose son Princeton was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 2 and is a patient of Eslin, are big believers in the work of St. Baldrick’s.
Although Princeton often accompanies his parents to St. Baldrick’s events, Jayme Bryan said he had opted that night to hang out with friends, “which is normal and that’s a wonderful thing.”
Guests had the pleasure of meeting three young ladies – Payton Elward, 11, and sisters Nina, 11, and Nadia Pettit, 9 – who will each have their locks shorn at the Big Shave on March 25.
“It makes me so scared and sad to think about what kids with cancer are going through,” said Payton.
“Compared to having cancer, getting my head shaved is nothing,” explained Nina, whose sister Maya passed away from a rare form of leukemia.
Their mother, Cara Pettit, founded Maya Matters to provide financial assistance to help cover expenses for others whose children are battling cancer.
“I’m very proud of my girls for shaving their heads,” shared Pettit. “I think it helps them feel connected to Maya.”
“I am blessed to have no one in my family who has been stricken with cancer. I do this out of sheer love for these kids,” said event co-chair Frank Mannino, who has had his head shaved the past 14 years.
“We have raised more than $500,000 since Frank, and I started five years ago,” said Elward. “Indian River County is the second largest St. Baldrick’s supporter in Florida.”
The fifth annual St. Baldrick’s Signature Head Shaving fundraiser will be held from noon to 6 p.m. March 25 at Capt. Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian. To “Brave the Shave,” visit StBaldricks.org/events/IndianRiver2017.
