Nineteen students, staff and alumni shed their hair to raise funds for patient care and cancer research at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year, students and staff raised over $7,096, the highest amount the school has raised in a single year.

The celebration was a dedication to staff members and the many loved ones who have battled cancer and also served as a beacon of hope.

This year’s speaker was Native American Education Program Coordinator Amanda Austin, who lost her brother to cancer.

“Today, I want to tell you about my younger brother, Jimmy. He went to Silver Creek from kindergarten to graduation. He played lacrosse and basketball and he loved music — anything that made noise, brought people together and made people happy. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2013. It’s often called one of the most beatable cancers, but he ignored the symptoms and by the time of his diagnosis, it had already spread throughout his whole body. That’s why early detection matters. If you think something is wrong, get it checked out,” Austin said, adding Jimmy’s three-year fight ended with a promise that she would go back to school to help kids like her and Jimmy.

Silver Creek student Calvin Matney is shown getting his head shaved during the district’s annual Bald for Bucks event.

For Silver Creek Bald for Bucks coordinator Jessica Kardashian, the fight against cancer is personal. “Many of us here in this room know the effects of cancer on our family members, ourselves and have witnessed the heartbreak and devastation it causes for so many including our very own right here at home,” she said, telling her own story of losing her grandfather and helping her mother through surgery to remove skin cancer last year. “Cancer does not discriminate and the mission to fight back has never been more important.”

Kardashian, who serves as advisor of Knights Against Cancer, added, “Everyone has a story that gets told in the form of a donation or volunteer work and that’s why I started Knights Against Cancer 10 years ago. I’ve worked to fight back for 21 years and I wanted a place for our kids to feel like they were doing meaningful work and have a safe place to channel their feelings when cancer can so often make you feel hopeless.”

Students Kim Bauer and Haleigh Salisbury emceed the event alongside returning special guest DJ Anthony. Some highlights included William Shuart, who donated his long hair and went bald, shedding a total of 16 inches. Guest clipper Amy Heller, a teacher, was welcomed to the stage to shave Bryan Wagner’s head. Another guest was Silver Creek Fire Chief and Silver Creek alumnus, Adam Graf, who shaved his head in honor of his mother’s fight.

“Cancer affects our community, but also hits closer to home. Some of you may know my mom, if you have visited the nurse’s office here,” Chief Graf said of his mother, Diane Graf. “My mom has given years of her life to Silver Creek Schools and the kids in this community. She is always putting others first and now, like so many, she is in a fight she did not ask for. That’s why today means so much.”

Knights Against Cancer also held braiding and tinsel stations and sold bracelets for additional donations. Throughout the year, Knights Against Cancer focuses on relationship building – offering students the opportunity to volunteer at events like the One Gold Event at Roswell, The Courage of Carly Fund’s Trunk or Treat and Holiday Party and cooking dinner for families at the Kevin Guesthouse in Buffalo.

Guest clipper Amy Heller, a teacher, was welcomed to the stage to shave Bryan Wagner's head at the annual Bald for Bucks event at Silver Creek Central School.

The Bald for Bucks event allows students to see different sides of their peers and teachers, and ultimately to see they aren’t alone. Each student’s reason for participating or supporting the cause was written on posters hung around the auditorium.

“I decided to shave my head today in honor of my great grandmother who lost her battle with stage 4 breast cancer,” Brendan Baker said on stage as his head was shaved.

This year’s participants included staff members Brad Bish, Greg Brennan (raising over $600), Michael Jackson, Paula Michalak (raising over $200), and Fire Chief Graf, who raised over $1,000.

Students in grades six to 12 raised money for the event, including Katryn Davis, Henry Congdon, Brenden Baker, Bryan Wagner (raising over $300), Jace Fox, William Shuart, Vigo Meyer, Eli Cook, Tony Rancano, Katherine Jones, Ben Nehrbass, Joe Ziegler and Calvin Matney (over $200).

Former student Eva Tytka donated her hair with 9th grade sister Chloe Tytka, who fundraised over $1,100 for the two of them being on stage to help cut. Others who raised funds for the cause included Kendra McDermott, who raised around $600, and Alanna Waite, who raised $400.

Special thanks go to volunteer Debbie Michalak from the Cutting Crew, who has been with Silver Creek since 2018, and cosmetology students Arianna Jones and Ryleigh Hanner. Jose and Rita Canfora helped the participants part with their locks, and London Patane from Bald for Bucks also assisted at the event.