BUFFALO (WBEN - Brendan Keany) - More than 35 Roswell Park Cancer Institute employees and their family members showed their support for patients by "Goin' Bald for Bucks," which fund raises for cancer research. As of the latest count, the people who shaved their heads for the event raised more than $38,000.
We're at "Goin' Bald for Bucks" at Roswell Park Cancer Institute! Today, Roswell staff members and their families have raised more than $38,000 by shaving their heads! pic.twitter.com/a8u9eRilnK
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930) February 19, 2019
Thomas Schwaab serves as the chief of strategy in business development outreach, and he says this event is all about the patients.
"I actually go Bald for Bucks every single year, this is my fourth or fifth year. I do it for my patients, as many of my patients will need chemotherapy, and when you receive chemotherapy, you become bald, and so I do it out of solidarity with my patients," said Schwaab. "My patients love. I have clinic tomorrow morning, and my patients are going to see me show up without hair, and they really feel that I'm in this together with them."
As each person who went Bald for Bucks has a story about how cancer touched their lives in some way, perhaps the most pure and emotional moment of the day came when 6-year-old pediatric cancer patient, Declan McDermott, was asked to shave the head of Erica Edbauer, who serves as a public safety officer for Roswell. Declan and Edbauer have become pals by playing Pokemon together on his visits, and Edbauer requested that he be the one to buzz her hair.
Six-year-old pediatric cancer patient Declan McDermott buzzes the hair of Roswell public safety officer Erica Edbauer. The two have formed a tight bond by playing Pokémon together during his visits to Roswell, and she asked him to shave her head for "Goin' Bald for Bucks.'" pic.twitter.com/n9u8njvOBZ
— WBEN NewsRadio 930AM (@NewsRadio930) February 19, 2019"This is actually my 12th year doing it," said Edbauer. "It's something my mom and I have done for the past 11 years together, and it's just a tradition that we have."
She discussed how important it was for her to have Declan take part in the process.
