A participant preparing to "brave the shave" at the 2024 St. Baldrick's event. This year's fundraiser will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at the Canasawacta Country Club. (Photo by Dustin Genter of 5th Dimension Photography)

NORWICH — The annual Norwich St. Baldrick's fundraiser will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 15 at the Canasawacta Country Club, located at 261 County Road 44 in Norwich.

The event is in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a worldwide organization that raises money for children's cancer research. To date, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised more than $354 million, and provided 1,872 grants in 31 countries.

This year's goal for the Norwich St. Baldrick's fundraiser is $50,000, and so far the local group has raised $14,075. Currently there are seven teams signed up, with a total of 41 participants, 31 one of which are "shavees," who will be shaving their heads at the event in solidarity with children diagnosed with cancer.

"We have a lot of great shavees, people who are doing this every year. But every year we have people that come and do the event that had their own personal stories and their own personal reasons for why they’re here," said Norwich St. Baldrick's Committee Member Zachary Wentworth. "It's the people that come in and have their own personal stories as to why they’re here that really kind of helps make a difference."

The fundraiser is open to the public, and those who aren't participating as a shavee or fundraising participant are encouraged to attend to support the cause and learn about the impact St. Baldrick's has on childhood cancer research.

Organizers and attendees ensure the event is fun and lighthearted. It's not uncommon to see last-minute shavees sign up or individuals donating money on the spot to get their friends to shave their eyebrows off. However, Wentworth said the fundraiser does have its moments of seriousness, too.

"We’re here, people have stories, people have family or friends they know that have fought cancer or have children that have fought cancer. It’s a celebration, but at the same time it’s, you know, we have a serious cause here. We want to conquer childhood cancer," he said.

Individuals can still sign up to be a part of St. Baldrick's. Participants can register as shavees and shave their heads at the event in March, or sign up as a fundraising participant and collect donations. Groups can also register as a team.

To sign up for Norwich St. Baldrick's, visit StBaldricks.org/events/norwich2025.

Additionally, Norwich St. Baldrick's has partnered with Gilligan's Ice Cream again this year to offer two custom ice cream flavors, with sales to benefit the Norwich St. Baldrick's fundraiser.

Flavors include Cookies and Cures, a green vanilla ice cream with Oreo cookie pieces and gold sprinkles, and Lucky's Frozen Courage, with Bailey's flavored ice cream and green Kahlua swirls. Lucky's Frozen Courage contains 4 percent alcohol by volume, and ID must be provided at pickup.

Pints are $5 each. An order form can be found on the St. Baldrick's – Norwich, NY, Facebook page. The deadline to order is March 7, with pickup and payment at the 2025 Norwich St. Baldrick's event. Individuals who are unable to attend the event to pick up their ice cream may contact the St. Baldrick's – Norwich, NY Facebook page to arrange pickup.

Individuals who would like to donate to the cause can do so at StBaldricks.org/events/norwich2025, where they can donate to an individual participant, a team, or the fundraiser as a whole. Cash donations can also be submitted at the fundraising event, or given to a St. Baldrick's participant.

For more information on the St. Baldrick's Foundation, visit StBaldricks.org.