North Dakota set to Brave the Shave

St. Baldrick's event to be held March 16 @ 1:30 p.m. at the Missouri Family YMCA, Bismarck [location changed 02-14-12].

Basin Electric Power Cooperative - February 2, 2012
Mary Klecker-Green

In North Dakota, it’s hip to be bald — especially in March. That’s when people become walking billboards for the quest to find a cure for children’s cancer. As the state enters the fifth year of hosting its annual St. Baldrick’s fund-raising event, organizers are hoping to create another buzz.

Originally started by Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Bismarck, ND, the annual hair-shaving event has grown into a statewide fundraiser for pediatric cancer research and fellowships. This year’s event is cosponsored by MDU Resources Group, National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) and Basin Electric. Additional organizations may join as sponsors by calling Mary Klecker-Green at 557-5604.

Since the event came to North Dakota in 2008, nearly 700 volunteers have shaved their heads in solidarity of children with cancer. In the four events Bismarck-Mandan has hosted, more than $500,000 has been raised for childhood cancer research and fellowships.

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 worldwide and in 50 states, raising more than $120 million. More than 190,000 volunteers have shaved their heads while requesting donations of support.

This year’s event will be held March 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Missouri Family YMCA. [location changed from Bismarck State College Armory - 02-14-12]

Pam Des Roches, Bismarck, will represent families impacted by pediatric cancer and will provide an update on Amber’s Dream — the transformation of the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital. Amber, daughter of Pam and John Des Roches, lost her battle to leukemia at age 15 in 2007. She was the vision and the drive behind Amber’s Dream, which is now complete.

Volunteers and shavees are already signing up to lose their locks. Anyone interested in getting involved — whether to shave, donate hair or volunteer — go to http://www.tinyurl.com/NDbravestheshave.

Highlights of this year’s event:

•    A pre-event kick-off celebration will take place at the Missouri Family YMCA starting at noon on March 16.  Baked and silent auction items — some donated by celebrities — will be available for purchase.

•    Basin Electric’s Mike Eggl and Ted Cash, along with MDU Resources’ D.J. Arnold, will serve as emcees for this year’s event. This will mark the fifth year Eggl and Cash have shaved their heads for the event. Arnold is also a past shavee and long-time advocate for the event. They will also be joined on stage by representatives from NISC and other special guests.

•    Spa D’Athena and Identity Salon are volunteering stylists for hair-cutting and shaving.

•    On March 17, during the Bismarck Bobcat’s home hockey game against the Alexandria Blizzard, members and coaching staff of the team will shave their heads live on center ice. Players will be wearing specially designed St. Baldrick’s 2012 jerseys, which will be auctioned off following the event. This is the second year the Bobcats have auctioned the unique jerseys. Last year’s jersey auction raised more than $6,000.

“We set the bar high after last year’s event, which brought in more than $177,000,” says Mike Eggl, Basin Electric senior vice president of External Relations and Communications. “We’re pleased to be partnering with MDU Resources Group and NISC and are looking forward to seeing this event grow even more. From our first year where we set a modest goal to shave five heads and raise $10,000 to today, North Dakota should be proud to stand among the top 25 events in the world. It says a lot about our people, and it says a lot about this organization.”

Organizations interested in forming a team should contact Jeremy Woeste at 701-557-5746 or at jwoeste@bepc.com.

For regular updates go to www.basinelectric.com or search for “North Dakota St. Baldrick’s” on www.facebook.com and “like” the page.

RELATED LINKS
Basin Electric
www.basinelectric.com
MDU Resources Group
www.mdu.com
NISC
www.nisc.coop

RELATED VIDEOS
Kids do the St. Baldrick’s shave:
http://basin03.basinelectric.com/player/player.php?video=550
Medcenter One CEO, others shave the day:
http://basin03.basinelectric.com/player/player.php?video=551
St. Baldrick’s honoree: Mia Thinnes:
http://basin03.basinelectric.com/player/player.php?video=534
Medcenter One’s Amber’s Dream becomes a reality:
http://basin03.basinelectric.com/player/player.php?video=536