March 22 - Savannah Mall to Raise Money to Fight Childhood Cancer
CF Special Report
Nine-year-old Paul Elliott has shaved his head bald every March since 2005 to support cancer research. On Saturday, March 27 the Savannah Mall will help him do it again by playing host to Savannah’s fifth annual St. Baldrick's Celebration. The event will be held in the Mall’s Center Court area starting at 2 p.m.
Each year friends and family pledge money to see event participants shave their heads in support of cancer research. Elliott’s mom, Heide Elliott, is the event’s coordinator and an oncology nurse with Backus Children’s Hospital at Memorial University Medical Center. She and Paul have been passionate about the cause ever since she first got involved in 2005. In 2007 she became the event’s coordinator.
“Last year we shaved over 89 heads including 16 women. This year our goal is to raise $20,000.” said Elliott. Childhood cancer patients and their parents often become guest barbers, giving them a way to make a difference and have some fun for a very serious situation.
Savannah Mall has hosted the event for the last two years since it outgrew a local pub. According to Senea Crystal, “We are so proud to host again this year. We have this big open space and are happy to share it to help raise money and awareness for a great cause. Plus, we’ve got great support from the local media. Fox28’s Jesse Blanco will emcee the event and E93, Mix 102.1 and KIX96 will be broadcasting live. Also, Angela Beasley and The Puppet People will be there with puppets, face painting and other kid’s activities.
St. Baldrick’s is a national organization that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. The funds raised via community events, go to the Children's Oncology Group. The COG is a network of more than 5,000 hospitals whose collaboration and research have turned childhood cancer from a virtually incurable disease to one with an overall 78% cure rate.
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