The brave, the bold and the bald

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Twelve-year-old Chasity Meyer, a seventh-grade student at Meadow Heights, is signed up for the second go-around of fund-raising for St. Baldrick's.

The St. Baldrick's name is a whimsical twist on St. Patrick's Day. At St. Baldrick's events, occurring outside of the Irish holiday, volunteers shave their heads bald, raising funds for childhood cancer research. Like runners in a marathon, "shavers" collect donations from friends, family and associates. The St. Baldrick's Foundation receives these funds and makes grants to experts to find new and better cures for children fighting cancer.

Between friends, family and teachers, Chasity raised $2,000 last year to shave her head in support of her 6-year-old cousin, Charlie Long. Charlie died in September, and Chasity has decided to take on the challenge again March 3, in honor of him. The event is held at Helen Fitzgerald's Irish Grill & Pub in St. Louis, where about 200 people get their heads shaved.

Chasity said, "I'm ready to do it again. My hair is about 6 inches long now. It really made Charlie feel that people cared." She thinks this year she'll raise even more money "because my mother sent out a letter to even more people."

St. Baldrick's got its start at a St. Patrick's Day party at a Manhattan pub in 1999 when Tim Kenny challenged his friends to shave their heads as a parallel with the children who typically lose their hair when they have cancer. The $17,000 they aimed for snowballed into $104,000 in donations March 17, 2000.

Chasity was a student at Meadow Heights Elementary School last year and according to the counselor there, she made enough of an impact to continue support for the cause again this year. Last year her recruitment for donations was announced in the school newsletter and followed up with visits to each classroom to collect. Meadow Heights Elementary School counselor Debbie Besher said, "I'm very proud to see her continue on."

This year the Science Club at Meadow Heights Elementary is supporting Chasity and learning about career paths in the medical and health-related fields through the fund-raiser. On Fridays now through March 2, students are permitted to wear hats for $1. They will receive a sticker stating how their effort supports childhood cancer. Meadow Heights High School is working out the details on a similar event supported by student council, Beta Club and/or FCCLA.

For Chasity, who doesn't mind getting her head shaved even though it's cold, this is her way of helping the other children. "I don't think it's right that children have to go through that every day," she said.

Anyone wishing to help support Chasity and her team, Charlie's Angels, may do so by making a donation online at www.St.Baldricks.org, or by mail to Chasity Meyer, Route 2 Box 406B, Perryville, Mo. 63775.