Los Angeles firefighters and police officers and hundreds of community members gathered on May 30 at the 23th annual fundraiser to help find a cure to battle childhood cancer. St. Baldrick’s Pancake Breakfast and Fundraiser held at The Vineyards at Porter Ranch, was sponsored by the Monrovia-based nonprofit. It featured first responders and community members at the “Braving the Shave” station where stylists lopped their hair off in solidarity with the children.
Joe Wilkinson, a captain for the Los Angeles City Fire Department, was one of the many who volunteered to have his head shaved.
His niece was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of two-and-a-half and he and her family wanted to support her in every way possible. So for the past 18 years he’s had his head shaved in solidarity with children fighting against cancer.
“There’s not much you can do and there’s not much that they did to bring it on themselves,” the Santa Clarita resident said. “So just to do a little part you feel like you’re contributing to current treatment and other kids’ treatment. I just get a sense of satisfaction doing a little part raising money for the research to help her and kids in her situation. Just to be able to raise money and shave my head and then to watch her grow up — you know it is going to a good cause.”
His niece, Cira Mejia of East Hollywood, has been in remission for 15 years.
(Photo by Gene Blevins, Contributing Photographer}
She recently finished her sophomore year at Middlebury College in Vermont and said she doesn’t remember everything about her cancer journey because she was so young but she does remember the support she had from her loving family.
“My journey has been shaped by the people in my life like my uncle,” said Mejia, who is majoring in international relations. “Events like this remind me of how far I have come and what a blessing it has been.”
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is one of the largest non-government charity funders of childhood cancer research grants allotted to research institutions in the U.S, according to a foundation spokesperson.
The idea was born on St. Patrick’s Day when three friends in a Manhattan pub challenged each other to shave their heads to raise money for children with cancer. Today, the organization relies on volunteers sponsored by family and friends to shave their heads in solidarity with children who lose their hair during cancer treatments.
Saturday’s event was expected to raise $50,000, according to foundation officials.
According to a foundation spokesperson, $50.9 million has been raised since 2005, and more than 660,000 heads have been shaved at St. Baldrick’s events.
Santa Clarita resident Giacamino “Jack” Veltri not only had his head shaved, he also donated blood. A work buddy told him about the St. Baldrick’s drive 14 years ago.
“I started to support my buddy,” Veltri said. “It raises money and is making a difference for a good cause.”
St. Baldrick is not a sanctioned religious figure, but rather a playful mashup of “St. Patrick’s Day” and the word “bald.”
Saturday’s attractions included police and fire apparatus displays, a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter flyover, and a pancake and sausage tent that attracted 200 people.
“There are more people here today than in past years,” said volunteer Cheryl Hutchinson as she poured syrup on 5-inch pancakes hot off the grill. “It’s a wonderful event and multi-ethnic.”
The day wouldn’t have been complete without a UCLA Health blood drive and bone marrow donor registration. By the end of the day about 25 units of blood were expected to be donated, according to Deborah Alter, a UCLA Health Blood and Platelet Center community liaison. Each unit can save up to three lives. “It’s been a perfect day and all of the blood collected today will help countless patients,” Alter said.
Alter said 60 percent of the blood supply comes from high school students at local schools.
Other highlights of the morning included a live disc jockey, magicians from Magic Castle in Los Angeles, Star Wars characters, LAPD K9 officers and motorcycles, free face painting, caricature drawings and a balloon artist.
The free pancake breakfast was sponsored by Gus’s BBQ, along with complimentary Peet’s Coffee and refreshments from Toastique and La Popular.
For more information about St. Baldrick’s visit https://www.stbaldricks.org.
To donate blood, visit https://www.uclahealth.org/programs/gotblood.