On Saturday night more than 100 people gathered for an inaugural St. Baldrick’s Cure Kids Cancer Gala and Auction at the elegant Oak Harbor Clubhouse to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. St. Baldrick’s supports pediatric cancer research with an unusual approach – head shaving – and to kick off this year’s campaign, Charles and Luz Redstone took the brave step of getting shorn for the cause.
The couple raised more than $3,000 by initially promising to shave their heads at the same time as 80 others who have signed up for the annual St. Baldrick’s event, which will take place March 21 at Captain Hiram’s. When they realized that they would be on a trip to Ireland that day, Frank Mannino, who with Missy Elward oversees the Indian River chapter of St. Baldrick’s, said they could get buzzed at the gala.
Elward, a hairstylist, is evidently a most persuasive co-chair, with several guests saying they became involved because of her. “You don’t say no to Missy,” laughed one guest, as others nodded in agreement.
The ballroom at Oak Harbor was already abuzz with excitement over the variety of items available, and a set of amazing songs performed by Jackie Steil during the cocktail hour. Excitement mounted even more when it was announced that the Redstones would have their heads shaved following dinner.
The couple found each other online after the deaths of their spouses, who had died of colon cancer nine years apart. Their friend, Lana Genovese, a Sebastian hairstylist, was given the honor of shaving their tresses.
Charles Redstone, a retired Hackensack, NJ, police sergeant and a genial giant with thick silver curly locks, was remarkable composed, despite his admission, “I haven’t seen my head bald since I was in the army in 1965.”
Luz Redstone, a petite retired NYPD detective, was also unfathomably calm. “I’m not vain,” she said with a shrug. “And it is for a great cause.”
Jayme and Val Bryan know all too well the toll that pediatric cancer takes on a family. Their son, Princeton, now age 5 and in remission, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was 2. The little boy, looking smart and robust in a sweater and shirt with a button down collar, is their first child, and was followed by three more.
They said they were grateful for everything that St. Baldrick’s has done for their family, including the financial support they received. Pediatric cancer does not just affect the patient; its effects are felt by everyone in the family. While many marriages end in divorce because of the stress, Val was helped by having a strong bond with Jayme and the chaos that comes with having four small children.
“There are more than 100 kinds of pediatric cancers,” said Jayme. “Yet only 4 percent of the National Institute of Health’s budget is for pediatric cancer. So we are really grateful for the money that is raised at these events.”
Proceeds from the evening benefit Childhood Cancer Research and are applied to the organization’s 2015 goal of raising $200,000 to conquer childhood cancers.
To donate, volunteer or even have your head shaved, call Frank Mannino at 633-4452.
