The Valparaiso men’s soccer team will be getting their heads shaved for the second consecutive year and will be joined by, among others, Valparaiso University president Dr. Mark Heckler in the Harre Union on Friday, March 30 at 11 a.m. as the Crusaders raise money for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

“People are so busy today that it’s important to find ways to get people to stop and think about such an important topic as childhood cancer, and then get involved,” said Heckler, who will become the first university president nation-wide to get his head shaved for St. Baldrick’s. “Shaving my head will not only draw attention to this topic during the event, but will be a visible reminder for days and weeks to come.”

The Crusaders first raised money for St. Baldrick’s in an event last March at B&G Barbershop, where they were able to raise better than $5,000 for the foundation.  The team has already cracked the five-figure mark this year in donations, but are still actively accepting donations leading up to and even after the event.  Fans are invited to come out on Friday to support the team, donate to the cause or even join the team and get their head shaved.  Fans can also donate by visiting http://www.stbaldricks.org/events/valpo online or by calling assistant coach Jeff Oleck at 219-464-5059 to donate by check.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation currently funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. The Foundation coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide, where volunteers get bald to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and raise money to support life-saving childhood cancer research. St. Baldrick's events are the largest volunteer-driven fundraising opportunity benefitting pediatric cancer research.