The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is set to host its annual “Live Bald 2025” event on April 12, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm at The Camp, located at 5909 University Drive. This gathering marks the 25th anniversary of St. Baldrick’s volunteers’ dedication to conquering childhood cancer. Participants will have the opportunity to contribute to childhood cancer research grants, providing hope and tangible support to thousands of children diagnosed with cancer each year.

The Mission of St. Baldrick’s Foundation

Since its inception, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has been committed to funding research aimed at finding cures for childhood cancers. The foundation offers various grant categories to support this mission:

St. Baldrick’s Scholars: A three-year career development award, providing up to $110,000 annually, designed to support early-career researchers in establishing independent studies in pediatric oncology.
St. Baldrick’s International Scholars: Similar to the Scholars program, this award focuses on training researchers from low- and middle-income countries, equipping them to address specific childhood cancer research needs upon returning to their home countries.
Research Grants: Offering $100,000 annually for two years, these grants fund hypothesis-driven research projects that can be laboratory, clinical, or epidemiological in nature.
Summer Fellowships: Providing $5,000 stipends, these fellowships support undergraduate, graduate, or medical students working in pediatric oncology settings during the summer.

Over the last 25 years, more than 240 institutions have received funding from St. Baldrick’s to conduct life-saving research. The foundation has awarded more than $326 million in grants, directly impacting thousands of families worldwide. (Source)

The Economic Impact of Childhood Cancer

The journey of families dealing with childhood cancer is fraught with emotional and financial challenges. Studies have highlighted the profound economic impact on these families:

A study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management revealed that the median income loss for families with a child undergoing advanced cancer treatment was 20%. Notably, 14% of these families experienced income reductions exceeding 40%, with lower-income families being disproportionately affected. (Source)
Research from the journal Pediatrics indicated that adult survivors of childhood cancers face significant productivity losses. The excess annual per capita productivity loss was estimated at $5,086, with employment disability accounting for 81.4% of this figure. (Source)
A 2021 report by The National Children’s Cancer Society found that 95% of families surveyed experienced financial hardship due to their child’s cancer diagnosis. 36% of families lost more than 40% of their annual income, and 30% reported household material hardship during the first six months of chemotherapy. (Source)

The economic strain adds a layer of difficulty to an already heart-wrenching experience. It underscores the urgent need for accessible, effective treatment options and continued financial support for research.

A Story of Resilience: Phineas’ Journey

The real-life experiences of children like Phineas underscore the importance of continued research and support. At the age of four, Phineas was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a diagnosis that came six years after his sister Althea tragically passed away from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Despite initial treatments proving ineffective, Phineas became one of the first patients to undergo a CAR T cell therapy clinical trial led by Dr. Daniel Lee at the National Cancer Institute.

Phineas’ leukemia was chemo-resistant, a devastating reality for only about 1% of children diagnosed with ALL in the U.S. His case was considered primary refractory, meaning it had failed to respond to the standard chemotherapy treatments. With very few options left, the family was fortunate to learn about the immunotherapy trial—a long-shot opportunity that ended up saving his life.

In CAR T cell therapy, a patient’s own immune cells are collected and genetically modified to recognize and attack cancer cells. Phineas received the therapy and endured a period of high fever and temporary speech loss, symptoms of a reaction called cytokine release syndrome. Thankfully, this was a sign that the therapy was working. Within one month, Phineas achieved remission. He later underwent a bone marrow transplant to increase his chances of long-term recovery.

Now a thriving third grader, Phineas enjoys biking, building robots, and debating screen time with his parents—just like any other child his age. His story is not only a testament to medical innovation but also a reminder of the vital importance of funding cutting-edge research.

“Our son would not be with us today if it weren’t for St. Baldrick’s and their direct support of childhood cancer research,” Carlos, Phineas’ father, said. (Source)

How to Get Involved

The “Live Bald 2025” event offers multiple avenues for participation:

Shave for the Brave: Individuals can volunteer to have their heads shaved in solidarity with children undergoing chemotherapy, raising funds and awareness in the process.
Fundraising: Participants can organize or join fundraising teams to support the cause.
Donations: For those unable to attend, direct donations can be made to support ongoing research efforts.

Volunteers, donors, and sponsors all contribute to advancing childhood cancer research and improving outcomes for patients and families.

Conclusion

Childhood cancer not only poses a significant health challenge but also brings substantial emotional and economic burdens to affected families. Organizations like the St. Baldrick’s Foundation are instrumental in funding research that seeks to alleviate these challenges. Participating in events such as “Live Bald 2025” enables individuals and businesses to contribute meaningfully to the fight against childhood cancer, fostering a community of support and hope.

Every shaved head and every dollar raised brings us one step closer to a future where no child has to face cancer alone.