Basin Electric wants you to Shave the Day
Volunteers and shavees have already begun signing up to lose their locks.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative
- February 8, 2010
Published by City Magazine
It's cold, but soon it's going to feel a lot colder on the heads of many Basin Electric, member cooperative and community members' heads. It's St. Baldrick's season, after all.
Since 2008, more than 300 volunteers from the popular Basin Electric event have been walking billboards for children's cancer research by shaving their heads in solidarity of children with cancer. It's all part of the cooperative's annual St. Baldrick's Day. In the two events Basin Electric has hosted, more than $215,000 has been raised for childhood cancer research and fellowships.
With March 17 just a little more than a month away, Basin Electric is gearing up for its 3rd annual St. Baldrick's event. This year's theme: Shave the Day! Volunteers and shavees have already begun signing up to lose their locks. Anyone interested in getting involved - whether to shave, cut your hair or volunteer - please register at http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/BasinElectric.
The Basin Electric event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the headquarters boardroom - again trading a St. Patrick's Day party for a St. Baldrick's Day head-shaving extravaganza. Tandem events will also be held, and Basin Electric is extending an invitation to anyone and everyone that may be interested in participating in the event.
"We're reaching out to area businesses, schools and organizations as well as cooperatives in our region to grow this event even bigger than years past," said Mike Eggl, Basin Electric senior vice president of External Relations and Communications, and a veteran shavee. In addition to head-shaving, participants have the option to cut 10 inches of their hair and provide a double donation: raise money for St. Baldrick's and donate their hair to Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Since 2000, St. Baldrick's events have taken place in 24 countries and 50 states, raising more than $68 million. More than 106,000 volunteers have shaved their heads while requesting donations of support.
Joining Basin Electric and member cooperatives so far in this year's event are individuals from the following organizations/schools:
- Bismarck Bobcats
- Bismarck State College
- Century High School
- Dakota United Soccer Club
- MDU Resources Group
- NISC
- University of Mary
A series of build-up events will take place prior to the official St. Baldrick's event at Basin Electric on March 17.
On Feb. 20 the University of Mary Athletic Department will be having a cancer awareness night at the women's and men's basketball games where football player Nick Thornton-Jack has agreed to donate his pony tail to "Locks of Love" as well as shave his head for Basin Electric's St. Baldrick's event.
On March 13, during the Bobcat's home game against the Owatonna Express, members and coaching staff of the team will shave their heads live on center ice. For more information, check out http://basin03.basinelectric.com/player/player.php?gallery=1&topic=4&video=336.
Organizations interested in forming a team should contact Mary Klecker-Green at 701-557-5604 or at mkleckergreen@bepc.com.
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.
