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From left are Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O'Dell and Kissimmee Fire Chief Jim Walls at the St. Baldrick's event in 2019. Photo/#2019 Shavefest Facebook page
Once again, there is a buzz around the St. Baldrick’s Foundation event Saturday in downtown Kissimmee.
The fourth annual hair shavingfest in Kissimmee, which is designed to bring awareness to pediatric cancer and plays off of the St. Patrick’s Day name, will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. in front of 3 sisters Speakesy, 226 Broadway.
The public can watch local officials, including Kissimmee Fire Chief Jim Walls and Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell get their head shaved for a great cause. In fact, anybody can do it – just donate to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which benefits pediatric cancer research.
“It’s a fun event and it’s for a great cause,” Walls said.
Local public safety officials used to take part in St. Baldricks events elsewhere in Central Florida before starting their own three years ago.
The first two years, $25,000 was raised. Last year, just under $27,000 was collected.
“One again we are asking for your support in our fight to defeat childhood cancer,” O’Dell says in a video on the Kissimmee Police Department Facebook page. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from the St. Baldricks event goes to fight childhood cancer.”
This year, however, will be extra special Walls said. In December, Kissimmee firefighters were invited out to Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee. Give Kids The World Village treats children with critical illnesses and their families to weeklong, cost-free vacations.
There, firefighters met 3-year-old Colorado boy, Paxton, who had cancer.
“We just fell in love with him,” Walls said. “He was a beautiful little boy.’
Firefighters were so impressed by the family’s attitude that they invited Paxton and his family to Kissimmee Fire Department station 11 on Clyde Avenue to spend some time at the firehouse.
About a month later, Paxton passed away. But when his family found out about the event, they wanted to take part and are flying to Kissimmee. Paxton’s father will be getting his head shaved.
“It will be emotional for us,” Walls said.
According to the St. Baldricks Foundation website, more children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease— in fact, more than many other childhood diseases combined. Before they turn 20, about 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will have cancer.
Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every 2 minutes.
At the Kissimmee event Saturday, there will be raffles at the event.
City Commissioner Felix Ortiz will be raffling off a car.
“We just encourage everyone to come out whether you get your head shaved or not, come support your local downtown and let’s defeat childhood cancer,” Walls said.
