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Century High students give for St. Baldricks
Supporting a friend, and a cause all at the same time.
Basin Electric Power Cooperative - March 3, 2009
Originally broadcast on KFYR TV
Reported by Alison Adair
Click on this link to watch the video: Century students give for St. Baldrick's
When you are in high school, how you look can mean just about everything. It can take a lot of courage to stand up and say, "I want to look different." But there is one Century High School Junior who is ready to change his appearance all for a good cause.
As he wanders the halls of Century High School, Andrew Ficek looks like a typical teen just going through his school day. But soon this junior with the shaggy hair is about to look a whole lot different.
"I don't know how I heard of it. I think it was my mom," he says. "They were complaining about my hair. So why not do it for something good."
"IT" is shaving his head. And that something good is St. Baldrick's Day. And while Andrew doesn't have cancer, he can somewhat relate to those who do. Last year he was diagnosed with rare auto immune disease, which requires a chemo therapy-like treatment. He lost some of his hair, and like many cancer patients, his body went through changes.
"At first I looked really different, no one really noticed me. I gained a lot of weight. Luckily, I had friends and people who didn't mention it a lot and made me feel better."
And it's those same friends who continue to rally around Andrew, as they have pledged to shave their heads for St. Baldrick's Day.
Friend DJ Masse says, "I don't know. It's something so little that you can give up. It just helps somebody that's going through this."
At a time in their lives when how you look, and who your friends are can mean just about everything, these five young men have the courage to look different, so others don't have to feel ashamed.
"I don't know from personal experience how they feel going through it. But If I had no choice I would feel left out," explains Masse. "I know some people when they are bald they think they have to hide it. And I don't think they should because It's something they can't help. It doesn't matter, you shouldn't care what people think."
Supporting a friend, and a cause all at the same time. Andrew and his friends will be shaving their heads on St. Baldrick's Day after school in the Basin Electric Board room.
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