Basin Electric is getting bald and taking others with it
The desire to be bald is growing. Actually, it's the desire to do good that's growing.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- March 11, 2009
originally published in The Beulah Beacon and The Hazen Star
The desire to be bald is growing. Actually, it's the desire to do good that's growing.
Basin Electric lit a spark when it announced plans to launch its second annual St. Baldrick's Day event. From that single spark launched an effort by several groups to join this cause - simply by offering up a little hair and a lot of heart.
With less than two weeks to go, 120 people have signed up to shave their heads - or cut ten inches of hair - and raise money for childhood cancer research and fellowships. The official event will take place at 2 p.m. at Basin Electric Headquarters. Tandem events will also occur at all of Basin Electric's facilities in North Dakota and Wyoming: Antelope Valley Station, Beulah; the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, Beulah; the Leland Olds Station, Stanton.
St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family.
Since the first ever St. Baldrick's event was held in 2000, volunteers have raised more than $50 million for life-saving research and events have been hosted in 48 states, in addition to Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Roughrider Electric Cooperative is also joining the event.
"We are thrilled and humbled by the level of participation from our cooperative and business friends," says Mike Eggl, Basin Electric senior vice president of External Relations and Communications. "It is nice to see so many people willing to sacrifice their hair - and their dollars - and come together for such a great cause. Sadly, cancer unites us all. While there is much work being done in cancer research, much remains - especially with childhood cancer."
Floyd Robb, Basin Electric vice president of communications and marketing support, is joining Eggl in shaving his head. "The last time I had a shaved head, I was in the U.S. Marines. Now I'm doing it for another worthwhile cause. Cooperatives are committed to the communities in which they serve. This event is one way of uniting our commitment and putting our resources to one valuable cause."
Don Franklund, co-manager Mor-Gran-Sou, Slope and Roughrider, is excited to bring the state's western cooperatives to the event. "I'm shaving my head. After I went on the St. Baldrick's Web site and read about the kids, I was compelled to do something about it," Franklund says. He is bringing the entire staff of Mor-Gran-Sou to the March 17 event in Bismarck.
For more information about St. Baldrick's visit http://www.stbaldricks.org. To learn more about Basin Electric's St. Baldrick's event visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/event_info.php?EventKey=2009-770#.
Headquarters
1717 East Interstate Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58503-0564 USA
Phone: 701.223.0441
Basin Electric Power Cooperative will provide cost-effective wholesale energy along with products and services that support and unite rural America.
