BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The 2016 St. Baldrick’s Brevard Shave Event is set for Saturday, March 12 at The Avenue in Viera and will once again be spearheaded by Garrett Lamp.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is an international volunteer organization that has raised more than $125 million dollars for childhood cancer research just through head-shaving events.
Lamp has been at the forefront of the Space Coast Baldrick’s Brevard Shave Event, now in its sixth year.
“Over the years, we have grown our event to became the 10th largest event in North America in total dollars raised out of over 1,300 events,” said Lamp.
“This is truly amazing, and a true testament to Brevard County’s commitment to finding an end to childhood cancer.”
THE 2016 ST. BALDRICK’S BREVARD SHAVE EVENT is set for Saturday, March 12 at The Avenue in Viera and will once again be spearheaded by Garrett Lamp. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.como
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
Garrett Lamp
“You can be a hero for kids with cancer at the The Avenue Viera on March 12th,” said Lamp.
“Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer or donate, we hope you’ll be a part of the excitement. We are celebrating our sixth anniversary on the Space Coast and with your help, this year we will have raised well over $1 million since 2011 in Brevard County.
“Get involved and you’ll be giving hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers.”
One of Lamp’s proudest achievements is his “knighthood” as a Knight of the Bald Table, a title that comes at quite a high tonsorial price.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation recognizes individuals who have participated in St. Baldrick’s events for seven years in a row. Lamp is one of these shaved few.
Not only has Lamp totally disposed of his hair every year for nine years, but as organizer of the Space Coast head-shaving events, he has been instrumental in raising thousands of dollars annually.
Just six years ago, the first head-shaving event raised $73,000. Last year alone, the more than 400 participating “shavees” brought in $320,000, putting the Brevard function in the St. Baldrick’s top echelon.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.
“There are 3,000 of these head-shaving events in the world, and we’re Number Nine in terms of total volume,” said Lamp.
“It puts us in the same league as big cities like New York, Chicago and Las Vegas.”
Lamp’s dedication to the cause is contagious, and one of the reasons individuals such as Janice Paris, last year’s top Brevard shavee, are able to part with their hair and generate lots of money to help eradicate childhood cancer.
Paris, for example, raised $18,000 in 2013.
DEDICATED TO ERADICATE TOP KILLER OF CHILDREN
Lamp began shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s in Orlando, where he works as a firefighter for Station 1 downtown. Six years ago, he launched the Space Coast shaving event at Meg O’Malley’s just before St. Patrick’s Day.
“There were no shaving events between Jacksonville and Delray Beach, so we started one,” said the Suntree resident.
“As a firefighter, you are trained to put out the fire, so I saw this as a way to help the greater picture. If you put that fire out, it will take care of itself.”
The father of three boys, Lamp was moved to action for St. Baldrick’s after a friend’s son was diagnosed with leukemia.
“Matthew was 11 at the time,” said Lamp.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.
Matthew did not survive cancer, but his plight remains deeply entrenched in Lamp’s heart as the impetus to work as hard as Lamp can to help eradicate the top killer of children.
“Every year, I find out more about childhood cancer and the need for more research,” said Lamp.
More children are lost to cancer annually than to many other diseases combined, yet the government and pharmaceutical companies do not focus on the problem.
“There is such a huge disparity between adult cancer and childhood cancer research,” said Lamp.
“It is so incredibly underfunded and swept under the rug.”
Lamp plans to shave his head each year until a cure for childhood cancer is found. He will not be the only one in the Space Coast to go topless with their heads, just before St. Patrick’s Day, the ritual time frame for the head-shaving events.
“It has been incredible how much the Space Coast has gotten behind this event,” said Lamp.
The Avenue in Viera is located at 2261 Town Center Boulevard in Viera, and the event will run 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, contact Lamp at gdlamp70@yahoo.com or call 321-432-2686.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation recognizes individuals who have participated in St. Baldrick’s events for seven years in a row. Lamp is one of these shaved few.
