 |
From left: Alfred Grovas, M.D., Bruce Gordon, M.D., display their freshly-shaved heads while visiting with 18-year-old leukemia patient, Alexandria Roark. Drs. Grovas and Gordon shaved their heads as part of a benefit for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit charity that raises money for childhood cancer research. |
Two pediatric oncologists, Alfred Grovas, M.D., and Bruce Gordon, M.D., were the first to sign up to get their heads shaved.
“I hope to give my patients a good laugh,” Dr. Gordon said.
“It’s a good way to connect with my young cancer patients,” Dr. Grovas said. “Now I can sport the same ‘do’ and hopefully help raise cancer awareness.”
About 50 people cheered on the oncologists during the shaving.
“I’m not nervous at all. I have a lot of hair. My hair will come back hopefully,” Dr. Grovas said.
Dr. Grovas’ 10-year-old son, A.J., also decided to lose his hair for the cause.
“It feels funny,” A.J. said after his hair was cut.
By the time the event was over, 14 people in all had their heads shaved including nurses and some former cancer patients.
Within minutes of making the decision to shave her head, oncology nurse Janine Thomas was able to raise $500.
“Think of how quick my shower will be tomorrow,” Thomas said. “Plus, I’m sure to save a lot of money on shampoo!”
Zane Fried already knows what it’s like to lose his hair.
The 18-year-old had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“It only took me three months to grow my hair back last time,” Fried said. “When I heard my doctors were going to be a part of this shave-a-thon today, I knew I needed to join them. These were the two men responsible for saving my life. Plus, if I can keep another child from going through what I’ve gone through, it will be well worth it.”
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the world’s largest volunteer fundraising program for childhood cancer. Five thousand dollars was raised at the event. Hairstylists Lindsey Kirk with Garbo’s Salon and Lynn Leonard with My Salon donated their time for the shaving.
The shave-a-thon was organized by Suzanne Nuss, Ph.D., pediatric oncology clinical nurse specialist at The Nebraska Medical Center. Donations are still being accepted and can be made by calling 559-6589.