-Magdalen Lindeberg

On Friday, March 23 at 3:30pm, in 135 Emerson Hall, Jean-Luc Jannink, USDA-ARS and SIPS Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, and Kim Cotton, Graduate Field Assistant, will be shaving their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

Cotton has participated in the annual event since 2009 when she met a mother whose 3 year old son was being treated for cancer.  “Right then and there I said if I got $500 in donations I would shave my head.  Well, one of the barbers wrote a check for $500 and I came home bald.  It was one of the best days of my life.” According to Cotton, Jannink was so inspired by her participation that he has been growing his hair all year in preparation for Friday’s event.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers.  What started as a challenge between three friends in 2000 has grown into the world’s largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants.  Donations can be made at https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/936054/2018 (Kim Cotton) or  https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/mypage/963681/2018 (Jean-Luc Jannink). Or consider shaving your head to raise funds for pediatric cancer research! Either way, come join in the fun on March 23.