St. Baldrick's Fundraiser Provides Shear Fun

For the fifth year in a row the St. Baldrick's Foundation had a fundraiser in Rancho Santa Margarita, raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer research.

There were 285 community members sacrificed their hair to the cause, including several girls who cut at least eight inches off their locks to go toward wigs for those who lost their hair in chemotherapy. About 120 volunteers helped run the event.

City councilman Steve Baric was among those who went under the shears, as he did last year, and attendant celebrities at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center included Olympic volleyball players Karch Kiraly and Rich Lambourne and baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew, who lost his daughter Michelle to cancer. It's the fifth year in a row that Carew, who was with his family, attended the event.

One of the most notable shearings didn't involve the scalp, but the mustache of emcee Bruce McCrae, who allowed a friend to shave away the mustache he has worn for 33 years. McCrae—or perhaps his mustache—was the leading fundraiser with $5,400.

The event culminated with organizer Mayra Northen, her hair streaked in green, taking a seat and having her dark locks cut away.

Organizers expected to raise about $115,000 through raffles, silent auctions and donations.