Drew Smart
Drew Smart leaned back in a folding metal chair on a temporary stage at the Second Street Irish Society and patiently nursed a cup of beer while hair stylist Kathleen Fagley did what stylists usually don’t do: shave every last follicle from Smart’s head.
Smart’s unruly mop started out roughly shoulder length, but he happily surrendered it all for a good cause—to help the St. Baldrick’s Foundation raise money for research into childhood cancers. He prepares for the event by growing as much hair as he can. “I let it grow every year,” Smart said as Fagley put the finishing touches on his shining scalp. “My last haircut was in November.” He and his buddies, working as a team, have taken part for four years, raising roughly $35,000.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is reputed to be world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for pediatric oncology research, raising $21 million in 2012 alone. “Shavees,” as the prospective baldies are called, solicit sponsorship dollars from friends, coworkers and family members. St. Baldrick’s started in 1999 when three New York reinsurance executives turned a St. Patrick’s Party into a locks-losing fundraiser. The project just took off, and now is nationwide.
The Second Streeters have been hosting their version of St. Baldrick’s for five years. Last Saturday’s event raked in a record $31,000. Club President Michael Remshard, who was scheduled to surrender his thick curls later in the afternoon, served as MC. The place was packed, and it seemed like every other head at the bar was as bare as a baby bird.
“We’ve raised $95,000 in the five years we’ve done it,” Remshard said. “The event’s grown a lot. Last year, we had 22 shavees. Last year was the best year, moneywise. we raised $20,000.”
This year, the number of shavees was closer to 30, including one young woman, Heather Withers. She started out with thick, dark, shoulder-length hair. In the end, Withers was left with nothing but a kind of 5 o’clock shadow. It was all worth it, though, she laughed, as her daughter Brittany ran her hand across mom’s smooth scalp. Withers raised $500.
“It’s my way of saying thanksgiving for being blessed recently,” she said. I’d been hoping for a new job, and it’s something cancer-related. This (St. Baldrick’s) came up, and I said, this is the perfect way to be thankful for my new job.”
Any regrets?
“It takes some getting used to,” she smiled, “but no.”
