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Carolina Hurricanes’ Niclas Wallin, Dennis Seidenberg and Broadcaster Tripp Tracy Shave Their Heads Bald to Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Research
Posted: 03-01-2008 : RALEIGH, N.C.
Raleigh, NC – Carolina Hurricanes’ Niclas Wallin, Dennis Seidenberg and Tripp Tracy are totally “buzzed” thanks to a pair of clippers and two children who have endured cancer. The Canes committed to going bald for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to help raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research. This is the second consecutive year Tripp Tracy has been shorn. “I just hope my new look will help motivate others to donate to St. Baldrick’s as they strive to find a cure for the number one disease killer of children in the United States,” explained Tracy.
A true Caniac, who’s a survivor of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), kicked off the head shavings on Friday afternoon at the Hibernian Irish Restaurant and Pub in downtown Raleigh. Fourteen year old Kevin Sebring of Durham was diagnosed when he was four years old and went through six years of chemotherapy and radiation at UNC. Kevin’s passion for the Hurricanes started years ago when the franchise first moved to North Carolina and he was the recipient of a Make-A-Wish in which he took to the ice with Keith Primeau. The Northern High School sophomore is now celebrating four years in remission.
As excited as any two year old should be Owen Halberstadt of Raleigh also went to town on the Canes’ heads. “We participate with St. Baldrick’s events because we have seen what cancer can do to these children. We are one of the lucky families in that Owen has an excellent prognosis. But what we want is for every child with cancer to have the same outcome as Owen,” says Dixie Halberstadt, Owen’s mother. Owen was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma when he was three weeks old. This malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system accounts for 7-10 percent of childhood cancers and can present with tumors from the base of the neck to the tailbone and near adrenal glands. Both of Owen’s parents have shaved their heads for St. Baldrick’s in the past.
This afternoon’s head shaving is the kick-off to five other St. Baldrick’s head shaving events taking place in the Triangle throughout the months of February and March. Hundreds of other head shavings will take place world wide during 2008. Since its inception in 2000, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has raised more than $34 million for the cause. Worldwide, 160,000 kids are diagnosed with cancer each year and despite tremendous progress, cancer remains the #1 disease killer of children in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Stuart Gold, chief of pediatric hematology and oncology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, is shaving his head for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation this year. “St. Baldrick’s has been a leader in this country for the past several years in raising money to support childhood cancer research,” explains Dr. Gold. “This endeavor has always been of utmost importance, but in the face of decreasing national funding for childhood cancer research, St. Baldrick's mission has become even more significant.”
St. Baldrick’s began as a challenge among friends and has grown into the world’s largest fundraising event for childhood cancer. Because treatment typically given to children causes their hair to fall out, volunteers are recruited to have their heads shaved in public in return for pledges of financial support. More than 420 people and counting have signed up to shave their heads in the Triangle in the coming weeks. On Saturday, March 1st, 16 year old Josh McCue will be shaving his head to mark the end of his treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). He already lost his hair in the past because of chemotherapy – now he’ll take it off on his terms as part of the team from UNC School of Medicine where he is treated. Money raised will fund grants and fellowships for childhood cancer research. In 2006, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation awarded the North Carolina Children’s Hospital at UNC a fully funded two year pediatric oncology fellowship.
Available for interview on February 29th:
Niclas Wallin, Dennis Seidenberg and Tripp Tracy - Carolina Hurricanes
Dixie and Steve Halberstadt - parents of pediatric cancer patient
Kevin and Cathy Sebring – pediatric cancer patient and his mother
Dr. Stuart Gold – Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at UNC
Jane Hoppen - Partnership Development Manager - St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Available for interview on March 1st:
Dr. Stuart Gold – Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at UNC School of Medicine
Dr. Don Coulter – St. Baldrick’s Foundation Fellow – NC Children’s Hospital at UNC
Josh McCue – 16 year old pediatric cancer patient and 2008 shavee
Charlotte Baker – parent of pediatric cancer patient
Sharon Delaney McCloud – parent of the late Macie Ann McCloud
Jane Hoppen - Partnership Development Manager – St. Baldrick’s Foundation
Contacts:
Sharon Delaney-McCloud (919) 810-5085; smccloud@nc.rr.com
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Head Shaving Events in the Triangle Metro Area: Sunday, February 24th – Factory Ice House in Wake Forest
Friday, February 29th – 2:00 pm - Hibernian Irish Pub in Raleigh
Saturday, March 1st – 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm - Hibernian Irish Pub in Raleigh
Saturday, March 8th – 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Napper Tandy's Irish Pub in Raleigh
Saturday, March 8th - 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Hibernian Irish Pub in Cary
Sunday, March 9th – 2:00 pm - Brickoven Grill & Bar in Fayetteville
About the St. Baldrick's Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which became a non-profit organization in late 2004, makes grants to research organizations that meet stringent criteria and share the foundation’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and emphasis on research. St. Baldrick’s research grants help fill crucial funding gaps at medical institutions where children are treated for cancer, ensuring the finest care for every child. St. Baldrick’s Fellowships enable some of the most promising new doctors to pursue pediatric cancer research as a career. For more information about St. Baldrick’s, please call 1-888-899-BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org
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