Roswell Park Goes Bald in Support of Cancer Patients, Raises More than $51,000 for Research

BUFFALO, NY — More than 50 Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) faculty, staff, patient family members and supporters took part today in the Goin’ Bald for Bucks Team Roswell event, shaving their heads or cutting ten inches of their hair to raise funds and show support for cancer patients across Western New York. The event raised more than $51,000 for the cutting-edge cancer research and patient support programs at Roswell Park.

Bald for Bucks participants included Roswell Park President and CEO Donald L. Trump, MD, FACP; sisters Emily and Jayne Bannister from Kent, NY, who went bald in honor of their father, now a cancer survivor; and Mukund Seshadri, PhD, DDS, Associate Member in the Pharmacology & Therapeutics Department at Roswell Park.

“For patients undergoing treatment, losing hair is often one of the first difficult steps in their battle with cancer,” said Dr. Donald L Trump. “Goin’ Bald for Bucks is a visual reminder of support to those undergoing cancer treatments, and raises critical funds for research and patient support programs at Roswell Park.”

Goin’ Bald for Bucks began when Western New Yorker Cathleen George was being treated for cancer in 2002. Her brother, Tony, vowed to keep his head shaved until his sister’s hair grew back. A teacher at Lake Shore High School, Tony shared his mission with his students when one jokingly said he would pay Tony to let him do the shaving. From this bet, Goin’ Bald for Bucks was born.

To date, more than $2.4 million has been raised for Roswell Park through Goin’ Bald for Bucks, and 52 and counting schools and organizations across New York State participate in the program. Roswell Park serves 31,000 patients each year, and funds raised allow Roswell Park to accelerate the start of new research needed to help save lives, and also supports programs that assist patients through their cancer journey. Learn more about Goin’ Bald for Bucks at BaldforBucks.org.