St. Baldricks Shave Event Set Today At The Avenue in Viera, Supports Pediatric Cancer Research

shave event will run 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – The 2017 St. Baldrick’s Brevard Shave Event is set for Saturday, March 18 at The Avenue in Viera and will once again be spearheaded by Garrett 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.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is an international volunteer organization that has raised more than $150 million dollars for childhood cancer research just through head-shaving events.

“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 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.

“Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer or donate, we hope you’ll be a part of the excitement,” said Lamp.

“We are celebrating our sixth anniversary on the Space Coast and with your help, this year we will have raised over $2 million since 2011 in Brevard County. Get involved and you’ll be giving hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers.”

KNIGHT OF THE BALD TABLE

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 eight 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 seven years ago, the first head-shaving event raised $73,000. Last year alone, the more than 400 participating “shavees” brought in $350,000, putting the Brevard function in the St. Baldrick’s top echelon.

“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.”

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. Seven 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.”

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.

For more information, call 321-432-2686.

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