With high temperatures causing several schools in the county to let the kids out early this week, Forestville’s students piled into the air conditioned auditorium to cool off and shed some weight off their heads for a good cause. Something as simple as a haircut resulted in another major impact on the region.

“This event is really a very special occasion. The students either have someone that they know that has been affected by cancer, or they have seen others that have been impacted by cancer in some way, so they want to help,” Elementary Principal Shauna McMahon said. “We have students and staff with the biggest hearts in our small school. It really shows on days like this.”

A total of 23 participants combined to raise $3,682 for Roswell Park in the fight against cancer. Of the participants, 13 students went Bald for Bucks, while 10 others participated in Locks of Love, including staff members Cori Coia and Nicole Nopper. Ava Schwerk, an eighth grader, got a head start on the festivities by getting her haircut for the cause done early. Elexia Caruso participated in both fundraisers.

The top fundraiser this year was new to the district, and Forestville is surely glad he came. Shooter Bellinger, a second grader, raised a grand total of $876. Second place was split between brothers Cove and Emery Campese, who together raised $562. Third place was Eleanor Mahle, a second grader who raised $200.

Seated are Shooter Bellinger, left, and Cove Campese, right, during Forestville’s Bald for Bucks event. Bellinger led all fundraisers with $876 collected, while Cove Campese and his brother, Emery, together raised $562.

Last year, 30 total participants across the two fundraisers raised more than $7,100 for Roswell Park in the fight against cancer, including 18 students participating in Bald for Bucks. Together, that totals more than $10,700 raised in just the past two years at Forestville.

“Forestville is such a generous and caring community. It’s hard to imagine our small school raised so much money,” said Forestville Elementary Reading Specialist Jennifer Dunn, the coordinator of the annual event.

Volunteers filled the auditorium to play a part, including parents, alumni, and hairstylists donating their time. Among those to volunteer included Forestville alum Abby Thompson, who has participated in the event for the past 11 years. Also volunteering were Kim Marsh, Mikayla Lukasik, and Lauren Fenton.

While the event was held in a different venue from years past, the tradition that has stood for more than a dozen years had the same impact on participants and those who cheered them on.

DJ Anthony, formerly of Kiss 98.5 FM, was the emcee for the event again this year. The district also welcomed Sierra Etkin, an event coordinator from Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

Cori Coia, a Forestville Central School District employee, holds locks of her hair in her hands as she participates in the Locks of Love fundraiser at Forestville.

Buffalo Sabres broadcaster Dan Dunleavy and Sabretooth, the team’s mascot, both visited Forestville, as well. Dunn contacted multiple organizations and requested support for the event. It was the Sabres who stepped up to make the annual celebration even better.

The visit was especially important to Dunleavy because he — like many others in the auditorium that afternoon — has been personally impacted by cancer. Dunleavy’s wife, Brenda, was diagnosed with cancer after doctors discovered a tumor in her lower body. The tumor was successfully removed and she received treatment at Roswell Park. Her three latest checkups all showed no signs of cancer.

“When events like this come up to raise money to find cures, it’s an easy thing for me to say I’m all in,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy shared his wife’s story with the audience. The students cheered as Dunleavy shared the positive news of her recovery, which he later said he was grateful for.

“The kids like to hear that they are doing it for a reason,” Dunn said. “To hear a touching story, a personal story, that meant a lot to them too.”

Forestville Elementary School students receive haircuts as part of the school’s annual Locks of Love fundraiser.

The event began nearly two decades ago, led by the efforts of former teacher Carol McPeak-McDonald as part of the district’s “Make a Difference Day.” McPeak-McDonald initiated the Locks of Love fundraiser 17 years ago, and two years later, Dunn began to lead the way with the Bald for Bucks event to include even more students in the festivities.

One of the first participants in Bald for Bucks was Brayden Smith, an elementary student at the time. Over his entire time at Forestville, Smith raised over $14,000 through Bald for Bucks. Combined with other fundraisers in the years since, Smith has raised more than $25,000 for Roswell Park in the fight against cancer.

New to the event this year was the “Tattoo Your Teacher” fundraiser, in which students donated a dollar to tattoo one of their teachers. “That was a very cute idea,” Dunn said, noting that some students brought in five dollars or more to spread the wealth across multiple teachers. “It brought the community together even better. It was really sweet.”

McMahon was one of the popular targets for new ink. She complimented her light blue floral dress with three tattoos on her face – one on each cheek, and another of a cat in the center of her forehead.

“I love spreading joy. If getting a tattoo on my face is going to put a smile on someone else’s, then I’m all for it,” McMahon said.

Hats were given to all the participants in the event to shield themselves from the sun when they exited the building and stepped into the summer weather.

Bald for Bucks participants include Shooter Bellinger, Cove Campese, Emery Campese, Karson Castellano, Kamden Castellano, Aiden Blasdell, Elliott Haase, Nick Pleszewski, Owen Raczka, Zachary Schwerk, Oakley Thompson, Sebastian Watson, and Logan Woods.

Locks of Love participants include Eleanor Mahle, Ophelia Johnson, Adeline Blasdell, Emmamarie Barone, Yanielys Sanchez, Addison Croft, and Ava Schwerk. Also participating were staff members Cori Coia and Nicole Nopper, as well as Elexia Caruso, who participated in both fundraisers.