More than 70 “shavees” have already signed up and are ready to lose their locks to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger and its Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders. The annual event, called Jack’s Chattanoggins, is set to take place this Sunday, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Chattanooga Market.
This is the second year 13-year-old Jack Skowronnek has teamed up with the Children’s Hospital Foundation at Erlanger. Last June, 60 heads were shaved and more than $18,000 was raised. According to event organizer and Jack’s mom Dawn Skowronnek, close to $20,000 has already been raised this year, with all funds raised going toward room renovations for the children’s oncology unit.
Notable shavee teams include the Chattanooga Roller Girls and Texas Roadhouse. Bekki Deck, a shavee from last year, has also organized a team called “Girls Gone Bald.” Even WUTC’s Cleveland Carlson will be shaving his head for the cause.
It is free to register and fundraise in advance. Those interested can also come out to the Chattanooga Market this Sunday and have their head shaved for a $25 minimum donation. Jack said that last year there were more than 30 walkup participants.
The event is sponsored by EPB and will be emceed by Dr. Shock. Fantastic Sam’s has joined the excitement and will be providing the licensed stylists for the shaving.
Inspired three years ago by the book “Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie”, Jack decided to shave his head to show kids with cancer that it's okay to be bald. After some research by his mom, Dawn Skowronnek, Jack discovered that he could shave his head and raise money for the research and treatment of childhood cancer through the St. Baldrick's Foundation. That first year, Jack raised over $1,300 on his own. In 2010, Jack repeated his head-shaving event, and convinced some friends to jump on the bandwagon. The result was over $3,000 in donations, along with local business donating their time and efforts to help feed, entertain and, of course, shave the participants.