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Basin Electric shaves the day

Basin Electric "shaves the day," on track to raise $100,000 for childhood cancer

Basin Electric Power Cooperative - March 16, 2010

Bismarck, N.D. - The St. Baldrick's Foundation is feeling the luck o' the Irish today, with a sizeable deposit into its pot of gold from Basin Electric's third annual St. Baldrick's Day event.

Nearly 200 people across North Dakota and Wyoming brought their heads together for a good cause, swapping their hair for donations for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. St. Baldrick's is the world's largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads each year in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family.

As of today, Basin Electric's St. Baldrick's event is well on its way to $100,000, and the money continues to come in.

Kicking off today's event was recognition of the children honored by Basin Electric. "I had the privilege of working with 10 families impacted by cancer," says Emily McKay, Basin Electric event planner/charitable giving coordinator. "Each story is unique, and while some have happy endings, some don't. These kids are the true reason behind St. Baldrick's, and it's through them that we learn about grace and strength."

Setting this year apart from others was the outpouring of support from community organizations. "We're pleased that our St. Baldrick's event has grown, and we welcome participation from our community neighbors," says Ron Harper, Basin Electric CEO and general manager. "This is a tremendous cause, and one in need of funding. Basin Electric brought St. Baldrick's to North Dakota, and our event last year ranked among St. Baldrick's top 20 events in the world."

Joining Basin Electric this year was participation from MDU Resources Group, NISC, Bismarck State College, the Bismarck Bobcats, the University of Mary, KEM Electric, Century High School, Mahoney and Mahoney Attorneys, the Bismarck Tribune and Dakota United Soccer Club. Additionally, making their St. Baldrick's footprint in Northeast Wyoming for the second year were contractors and employees from the Dry Fork Station construction site near Gillette. More than 50 individuals shaved their heads Monday at a tandem event, and while their totals are still being counted, estimates look like they raised close to $15,000. Contractors taking part included Sargent & Lundy, LLC, Viking Sprinkler, Babcock & Wilcox Construction, Fagen, Inc., Hettinger Welding, Guardsmark, Titan Contracting & Leasing, Triad, Westcon Industries, Ames Construction and Nooter Eriksen.

"The success of this event has once again blown me away," Harper says. "It's no secret that our nation is in the midst of an economic crisis. Despite this, so many people share a common desire to do good and support an outstanding organization. This is truly a force that should be recognized."

In addition to Dry Fork Station, tandem events were also held at the cooperative's Antelope Valley Station and Great Plains Synfuels Plant (both near Beulah, N.D.), Laramie River Station (near Wheatland, Wyo.), Mandan's Transmission Systems Maintenance shop, MDU Resources Group and the Bismarck Tribune.

Participants also had 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.

Since 2000, St. Baldrick's has raised more than $75 million for the cause and shaved more than 135,000 heads in 50 states and 25 countries.

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/BasinElectric.

About Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck. It generates and transmits electricity to 135 member rural electric systems in nine states: Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. These member systems distribute electricity to about 2.8 million consumers.

Video

Video stories from Basin Electric's 2008, 2009 and 2010 St. Baldrick's events:

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Stories and photos from Basin Electric's St. Baldrick's events

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