Indian River County was abuzz with a trifecta of activities to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which since 2005 has invested more than $326 million worldwide toward cancer research in its quest to conquer children’s cancer. During headline Brave the Shave events, people have their heads shaved to raise funds, awareness and in a show of solidarity to children who lose their hair during treatment.
At an Awards Evening in late February at the Walking Tree Brewery, Frank Mannino, who co-founded Indian River County Shave in 2013 with Missy Elward, recognized individuals and businesses for their commitment to the cause.
“During Missy’s tenure as a volunteer event organizer, IRC Brave the Shave raised just shy of $1 million,” said Mannino, calling Elward the “driving force behind volunteerism and ‘shavee’ recruitment.”
Audrey Richey was at Capt. Hiram’s during the 2015 event and was so touched that she had her own head shaved. That year, she raised $16,000, more than any other woman in the Southeastern United States.
Casie Shimansky spent several years photographing Brevard Shaves and in 2018 shaved her head the weekend of her wedding. To date, her Team Live Out Loud has raised $101,000.
In 2021, Joni Mazzola, determined to be the “next woman shavee,” raised more than $12,000.
John King, of Remax Crown Reality, has shaved as a team with his family since 2014, raising nearly $33,000.
Ron Blank recruited several fellow Sebastian Lions to shave their heads. His efforts led to Lions International adding childhood cancer to their global causes.
John O’Conner and the Indian River County Firefighters Benevolent Association assemble teams of shavees and provide sound equipment for the Big Shave. In 2016, O’Connor and Elward co-founded the annual Fire Truck/MRAP tug-of-war challenge at Walking Tree to benefit St. Baldrick’s.
Walking Tree Brewery later added a Mulletfest fundraiser and has donated more than $10,000 to St. Baldrick’s.
AJ Koontz created Team Never Quit, which to date has raised more than $102,000.
And Capt. Hiram’s owners Mickey Capp and Tom Collins were honored as hosts of the IRC Brave the Shaves. They also contribute $1 for every Capt’s Crush purchased there each March.
“It was Mickey Capp and Will Collins who agreed to shave their amazing locks that set off a Sebastian/IRC charity event, which we know will last until we conquer kids cancer,” said Mannino.
In March, during the 11th annual Brave the Shave at Capt. Hiram’s Sandbar, 51 people raised funds and awareness by having their heads, beards and mustaches shaved, raising more than $63,000.
St. Baldrick’s supporters continued their efforts on April Fool’s Day during the third annual Mulletfest at Walking Tree. Families enjoyed tossing mullet and bales of hay, competed for the title of best mullet hairstyle (if there is such a thing). Others showed their prowess in a tug-of-war with a MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle, provided by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, with the Dump Truck Daddies taking the crown with a pull time of 15.44.
“Only 4 percent of federal funding for cancer research is granted for children’s cancer research. St. Baldrick’s Foundation supplements further research grants exclusively for children. Because of that, we’ve seen two new drugs developed exclusively for children,” said Mannino.
“In 11 years, Indian River County has donated $1.2 million. It’s staggering that Indian River County is so wonderfully generous.”
Mannino said he expects to raise roughly $75,000 through this year’s activities, noting that Indian River County raises as much, if not more, than their counterparts in the much larger Brevard County.
For more information, visit stbaldricks.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis and Mary Schenkel
