FORESTVILLE - Thirty-nine brave students from Forestville Elementary will face the cold this year with bare heads and shorter hair. The school recently held its annual Bald for Bucks and Locks of Love assembly to raise money for cancer research.
"Students have been working very hard to get sponsors and to raise money for this very worthwhile cause," Reading Teacher Carol McPeak-McDonald said.
McPeak-McDonald, along with Katherine Wyrobek, fourthgrade teacher, coordinated the event. Altogether, the students were able to raise more than $6,000 for Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Among the students participating, four girls shaved their heads. Fifth-grade student Dakotah Kaiser had enough hair to donate to Locks of Love and shave her head bald.
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OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell
Thirty-nine students and five adults participated in Bald for Bucks and Locks of Love at Forestville Elementary.
"Forestville is definitely making a difference for the future of cancer research and tomorrow's cures," McPeak-McDonald said.
Emily Smaldino, event coordinator for Roswell accepted the check on behalf of the students. In addition to the students, some family members teamed up to raise money together, according to McPeak-McDonald.
"We also have some family members that have chosen to team up together," she said.
Three pairs of brothers were shaving their heads together, and a brother sister pair were participating in both Bald for Bucks and Locks of Love. Student Joey Yeager was participating with his grandfather and student Patrick Klein was shaving his head with his father. Teacher Ralph Jackson also shaved his head and participated with his niece, Kaiser. Along with Jackson, fellow teacher Scott Hazelton also shaved his head.
After each student had their head shaved, they were given a winter hat "keep their bald heads warm." Hats were purchased through a donation from the family of the late Patty Reed.
"Patty Reed, a friend and Forestville Central School employee for over 30 years, passed away this October and is dearly missed," McPeak-McDonald said.
Hair stylists Sue Morrison, previous owner of Sue's Hair Salon and Crystal Voigt and Roxanne Brzowski from Visions of Elegance Salon, both in Fredonia, were cutting hair for Locks of Love.
"These ladies have graciously donated their time and skills for this special day," Wyrobek said.
Each student received sponsorships donations to raise money for the event. The top fund raisers were Gianna Maggio with $545, Kaiser with $465, Gabe Rhodes with $432, Alana Schneider with $340 and Mackenzy Graziano with $222. Those students who raised $100 or more were given a Bald for Bucks T-shirt.
"What an accomplishment for all of you. You should be so proud of yourselves for what you did here today," McPeak-McDonald said. "We know your families are proud and so is everyone at Forestville Elementary School."
Students who participated in Bald for Bucks were Santiago Paz, David Barrett, Matt Dunn, Nicholas Lawson, Antonio Patton, Alex Carlson, Joseph Kingsley, Graziano, Zachary Waterman, Brayden Smith, Camren Stana, Nick Stanfield, Brady Giberson, Ryan Waterman, Chris Waterman, Collin Carlson, Sam Butcher, Schneider, Rhodes, Joey Yeager and his grandfather Richard, Anthony Fitzgerald, Jaden Whitfield, Dylan Pierce, Michael Palmer, Gabe Benedict, Patrick Klein and his father Chuck, Lucas Young, Maggio, Hastings, Kaiser, Clare Kingsfield, Braden Grubb, Travis Drozdiel, Jaden Whitcomb, Zachary Roland, Nik Lelonek, Brandon Dunn, Phoenix Ferneza and Shane Taylor. Those participating in Locks of Love was Jacob Szumigala's mother Theona Szumigala, Lauren Pierce, Vivian Tanner, Alice Vigue and Kaiser.
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