Renee Shifrin-Tannenholtz grinned ear to ear as she had her head shaved in front of a crowd of about 115 people.
Fourteen others joined Shifrin-Tannenholtz on Flavet Field on Friday, shedding their locks to raise money for children with cancer as part of the Freshman Leadership Council’s St. Baldrick’s Day event.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that supports and raises money for childhood cancer research.
Friday’s event raised $6,295 through 15 “shavees” who were sponsored to have their hair cut. Shavees participated individually and in teams.
The Freshman Leadership Council had the most participants on its team and raised the most money — $4,305.
Shifrin-Tannenholtz, 44, was one of the few women who signed up to have her head shaved.
She raised $1,831, more than any other participant.
“People say I’m so brave for doing this,” Shifrin-Tannenholtz said, “but the kids fighting cancer, they’re the ones that are brave. I’m just getting a haircut.”
Dr. William B. Slayton, associate professor of pediatrics in UF’s division of hematology and oncology, treats cancer patients who range in age from newborns to young adults.
“The research that’s funded by groups like St. Baldricks Foundation is critical in terms of making lives better for people who might not have easy cures,” Slayton said.
Political science freshman Leigh Robertson, 19, organized St. Baldrick’s Day events three years in a row at Park Vista High School in Lake Worth.
She organized Friday’s event, which she said was the biggest one she’s put on.
“Bald is in!” Robertson said.
Renee Shifrin-Tannenholtz gets her head shaved on the bandshell of Flavet Field on Friday afternoon for the Freshman Leadership Council's first annual St. Baldrick's Day event. Shifrin-Tannenholtz raised $1,831 for children's cancer research.
