SOURCE: Connecticut Post (newspaper)
online at connpost.com
FAIRFIELD -- Eyes scrunched tight, Stephen Gniadek, 8, could hear words of encouragement over the din of a razor that was slowly erasing his mop of hair.
"He almost did it last year," shouted Amy Gniadek, his mom, stepping in over a growing mound of locks to capture the moment with a camera. "It was his idea."
The idea wasn't to set a trend but to raise money to help cure childhood cancer.
Gniadek set up a table outside his Fairfield home. Between that, family and friends, he raised more than $650 to donate to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a group that since 2000 has raised $53 million with head shavings in 18 countries including Canada and the United Kingdom.
Locally, Sunday's "hair raising" event took place at the Bear and Grill Restaurant on Black Rock Turnpike. Tim Kenny, co-founder and chair of St. Baldricks, stopped with his wife Lynn and declared the local event one of the most organized he has seen.
Given the economy, organizer Dana McCreesh, of Fairfield, expected this year to raise more awareness than money. Yet, before the first zip TeamBrent -- as the local group is called -- had raised $240,000 and was on a pace to earn as much as $375,000.
"This is awesome," she said, looking at guys and their sons line up to take one of nine seats on a raised platform in a vacant storefront next to the restaurant.
More than 400 people signed up and walk-ins were welcome. The day-long event was held on a Sunday this year
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instead of a Thursday night. Haircutters from the Total Look Salons donated their time to shave the heads. Once bald, participants were welcome to get their noggins painted as well. There were also games, food and music.
McCreesh and husband Mike created TeamBrent in 2005 when their son Brent fought stage IV Neuroblastoma. He has since recovered. When TeamBrent started participating in St Baldrick's -- traditionally held around St. Patrick's Day -- Mike McCreesh said it was 22 "knuckleheads" who walked into a barbershop and walked away bald.
Now, more than half the participants are children.
"I saw a few of my friends do it last year," said Greg Lawrence, 8, of Fairfield, explaining his participation.
"They saw him do it last year. This year they are too. It's for a great cause," said Danielle Paolozzi, of Trumbull, watching her husband, Al, and sons Al, 8, and Shane, 7, get their hair cut together.
"Feel a little breeze up top," her husband called out.
Roger Haney, of Fairfield, who has had his head shaved all five years, said he feels a vibrant energy when bald.
"I feel great in the morning. You don't realize how many nerves you have in your head," he said.
While most participants were men, a few women also went bald for the cause.
Maria Angelica Calandriello, of Stamford, said shaving her head was the easy part. "The hard part, in these tough times, was asking people for money." She raised more than $400 with more coming in.
Wendy Croker, of Fairfield, had her head shaved for the second year in a row. She said the act of going bald is more than standing in solidarity with those getting treatment for cancer. A woman who is bald invites questions, offering the perfect opportunity to tell them about the cause. Many end up donating to the cause. Last year she raised $9,000. This year she has raised about $4,500.
"I'm more nervous this year. My hair didn't grow back fast," said Croker of her formerly shoulder-length hair.
Reactions from co-workers and others is always varied. "People try not to look. They ask how you are. They wonder if you are sick. I thought it brought out the good part of people," she said.
"That's my girl," called out Croker's naturally bald husband, Barry Wight, as hairstylist Brian Meath started cutting. "It's going."
To find out more about the cause or make a donation, visit
www.teambrent.com.
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