CHICAGO (March 11, 2009) – Northwestern University head coach Patrick Fitzgerald joined a head-shaving event Wednesday sponsored by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research.
Fitzgerald, a star linebacker for the Wildcats in the mid 90’s and a 2008 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, participated in memory of Matt Hartl, a Northwestern linebacker and teammate of Fitzgerald's on the 1996 Rose Bowl team who died from Hodgkin's disease in 1999. The shave was also in honor of Ainsley Burns, the daughter of Assistant AD Betsi Burns, who is currently in treatment for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).
“We’re excited about supporting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation,” said Fitzgerald in a press release. “Our entire coaching staff has a great passion for this organization and its mission. We hope our small contributions will create more awareness for pediatric cancer and the individuals it has impacted.”
The “Brave a Shave” event took place on March 11 at Jay’s Barber Shop in Evanston, Ill. Other people joining Fitzgerald for a shave included Northwestern’s assistant head coach Jerry Brown, linebacker coach Randy Bates and offensive line coach Adam Cushing.
With a mission of Shaving the Way to Conquer Kids’ Cancer, St. Baldrick’s coordinates worldwide with volunteer “shavees” raising money to support childhood cancer research, and what began as a challenge between a few friends has grown into the world’s largest volunteer driven fundraiser for childhood cancer research. Since the first event in 2000, St. Baldrick’s volunteers have raised more than $51 million by shaving more than 73,000 heads at over 1,700 head-shaving events in 18 countries and 48 states.
About The St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancer, and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. The foundation funds research projects conducted by established pediatric cancer experts, as well as younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, offering the best available care for every child. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is grateful to its many volunteers (bald or not!) and donors, including Allied World, elope and PartnerRe. For more information about St. Baldrick’s, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.
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