Liberty Students, Faculty Shave Heads for Cancer Foundation

Liberty Middle School officials knew that Liberty students, faculty and staff were generous and would contribute to a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Foundation.

But they never dreamed that the effort would exceed its fundraiser goal many times over.

The fundraising effort kicked off last month and concluded at the school’s St. Patrick’s Day Dance Friday afternoon.

The original goal was $1,000, according to organizer Josh Christopher.

A student at the school had participated in a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser before, and the idea to do one at LMS was brought up at a meeting. 

Christopher said the subject of childhood cancer is a dear one to Liberty Middle School – a student at the school has had 3 chemo treatments.

“The kids really just took off with it,” Christopher said.  “They just kind of took ownership of it, and it went from there.”

Funds were raised through a variety of events at the school, and students also sought out pledges from family and friends.

Many students, boys and girls alike, promised to have their heads shaved as part of the effort. 

LMS principal Donivan Edwards offered students an incentive. If they raised $3,000, he join them and have his own head shaved.

“They sailed past that amount,” Christopher said.

Throughout the dance on Friday night, Emma Goodnough and Tina Hawkins shaved students’ heads.

Christopher got his own head shaved.

Students then cheered Edwards on as his made good on his promise.

Seventh-grader Celia Hayes was the student who raised the most money individually  - over $600.

She collected pledges from church members, friends and family.

She was surprised that she was able to raise that much money.

“It’s for a good cause,” Hayes said.  “I thought I would do it for a good cause, to help kids my age and younger and older who have cancer, and survivors, to help other people. It was going to be fun for a good cause.”

Hayes had her head shaved during the dance.

“It felt really weird,” she said. “That’s all I’ve got to say – it felt weird.”

The school did a fundraiser at Christmastime that raised $2,500, Christopher said.

“We never thought we’d hit that again,” he said.

As of Friday afternoon, the tally stood at $5,700 – with more pledges coming in, Christopher said.

“It kept snowballing and getting bigger and bigger,” he said.  “It’s the most we’ve ever done. It’s kind of amazing. The kids really stepped up as a whole.  They really got behind it.”