Heads Shaved to Raise Funds for Cancer Research

Bailey Johnson was a four time Stage 4 cancer survivor by the time he was 5. Now a student at South Tahoe High, Bailey underwent surgery just over three weeks ago to help straighten his spine which was damaged while undergoing radiation.

Caitlyn Drennan is 3 1/2. She was diagnosed with cancer at birth and underwent chemotherapy when just 2 days old. She now needs a walker due paralysis below the knee but is a survivor of Stage 4 Neuroblastoma.

Both of these South Lake Tahoe children were on hand at Saturday's Third Annual St. Baldrick's, an event that raises funds for children's cancer research. Since most cancer patients loose their hair during treatment, St. Baldrick participants must collect donations to have their heads shaved.

Almost 100 men, women and children had their heads shaved and event organizers hope to have raised $50,000 once all the receipts are in. 6 year old Avalon Newberry raised $1,000 and joined her dad Ricky, who is a ski patrolman at Kirkwood,as they had their heads shaved. The Magnet School student was all smiles after putting a stocking cap over her freshly shaven head.

Christy Smith, grandmother of Bailey Johnson, started the event three years ago to bring awareness of childhood cancer to the community and raise funds for research. She is pictured here with fireman Jim Drennan, father of Caitlyn.

"We not only need a cure for cancer," Smith said, "we need better treatments." She said there are 25 different cancers that children can get, yet just 3.8% of all money raised for cancer research go to the kids. "There has been no new pediatric cancer drug in 20 years, and that is really sad," said Smith.

Once a child beats cancer they have to deal with the effects of chemo and radiation treatments they had. Bailey's surgery was to correct a severely curved back. The radiation affected the middle of his spine, so everything below and above that area are growing as with any child, but the affected area stopped growing.