NORWICH – Local residents may notice an increase in shaved heads throughout the city, as the St. Baldrick’s Foundation returns this weekend for the sixth straight year, raising money and awareness for childhood cancer research.

The foundation, established in 2000 by a small group of reinsurance executives, utilizes its donations to fund more in its field than any other organization in the country, with the exception of the United States government, according to www.stbaldricks.org.

With over $74 million raised in the past decade, the foundation challenges participants to collect monetary donations from friends, family and the community, in return for shaving their heads and becoming, according to its website, “walking billboards for childhood cancer awareness.”

“We have over 40 people taking part at this point, including several women and children,” said Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo, who is organizing the local event. “This is just one of those things that has taken on a life of its own through the years, and the community has been behind us from the start.”