Going Bald for St. Baldrick's Foundation

If you notice a sudden increase in the number of firefighters with their heads shaved, it was all for a good cause.

This past Thursday, the Barrow County Professional Firefighters Association and sponsored a St. Baldrick's event in which participants volunteered to have their heads shaved for donations.

More than 50 people sported new 'dos to raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which makes grants to research institutions to find new cures for childhood cancers and to find treatments to ensure a better quality of life for patients and survivors. 

“Our original goal was $5,000 and 25 shavees,” said Lt. Rob Nowakowski, who coordinated the event. “I am very pleased to announce we raised over $11,000 and had over 50 shavees. The outpouring of support from the community was overwhelming. The commitment of the ‘shavees’, the volunteers, the donors and Locos made the event a huge success.”

Barbers Liz Baird and Hayley Hackett performed the shaves.

“They sacrificed their time and clippers, and without them, we couldn’t have done this," Nowakowski said.

now sports a shaved head following Thursday's event. The chief had agreed to the new haircut if the event raised at least $10,000 and made good on his promise.

“He was a good sport about it, and we were glad to have his support,” said Nowakowski, adding plans are in the works to make the event an annual fundraiser.