Going Bald for St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Research Foundation
We at Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Firefighter Department (OWL VFD) are more of a family than anything else. One of our retention benefits for members includes social events. Among these is our 6:01 Club parties, aptly named because they begin at 6:01 p.m.
Our 6:01 parties have always been fantastic events that bring our members, their families and friends, together to further forge the VFD bond that we share. It was Life Member Tony Carroll who came up with the idea for raising money for the St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Research Foundation. In 2006, Carroll was serving as the Assistant Chief overseeing the department’s recruitment and retention efforts. He saw other fire and rescue departments participating in St. Baldrick’s fundraising and decided to tie this in with a 6:01 club party.
The goal for the 2006 event was to raise $1,000, but we raised over $6,000. Carroll’s wife, Heather, who is also a life member at the OWL VFD, explained, “As it gained momentum, we started spotlighting some local kids that had been impacted by cancer.”
These included Zack Wessolleck, a current member and son of Life Members Harry and Sue Wessolleck. Also, Trevor Blake and Parker Boyd. Trevor, a Woodbridge resident, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He lost his battle to cancer in 2013 at age 11. Trevor attended our St. Baldrick’s event a few times before his passing. Parker, also a Woodbridge resident, lost his battle to cancer in 2008 at age 9. His family has attended our event a few times, as well.
St. Baldrick’s raises money for children fighting childhood cancer. According to St. Baldrick’s, “Worldwide, 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. And in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease — more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined.” These statistics are sobering, and we decided that as a department, we wanted to make a difference.
St. Baldrick’s prioritizes their research to make the greatest impact possible in fighting childhood cancer, and the OWL VFD now prioritizes supporting their efforts. OWL VFD members take pledges from family, friends, community members and organizations, with 100% of contributions going to St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Once a member reaches their fundraising goal, they have their head shaved at the annual March event.
Over the years several other fire departments have begun participating in our event, too. The OWL VFD has raised more than $400,000 for St. Baldrick’s since the program began. That’s a lot of money and a lot of bald firefighters — more than 600 to be exact! Additionally, we’ve organized raffles and silent auctions to benefit the foundation. Here’s what a few of our members have to say about our work for St. Baldrick’s:
“I enjoy participating in St. Baldrick’s every year because of the purpose of the event. To help raise funds and awareness for finding a cure to childhood cancer. As I write this, I look at my two healthy loving boys and know that a lot of other people used to do the same thing till that one day when their lives changed forever. Even though the survival rate has improved there are still too many children waiting for a cure or break thru to develop in science before they die. I can only hope that the funds I contribute help make a difference.” – Rick Moore, OWL VFD Life Member
“I participate because it is a great fundraiser to contribute to. I ask local vendors to contribute to our silent auction and raffle. I love to bid on the silent auction items.” – Michelle Bauer, OWL VFD Member
“I am happy to help raise awareness for childhood cancer research. Being able to shave my head and show my commitment to this cause is just a small part of giving back to the community. The attention my bald head gets is a great conversation starter and I am proud to have participated. I will be doing this again.” – Frank Bruno, OWL VFD Firefighter/Engine Driver
If you would like to help in our fundraising efforts you can make a donation online or contact us to find out how you can donate a product or service for our silent auction at our annual March event.
Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (OWL VFD) is one of the largest and busiest volunteer fire departments in the United States, with almost 300 members. OWL VFD provides fire suppression, EMS care, and rescue services to 80,000 residents in our 27 square mile area through the operation of three fire stations. OWL volunteer Firefighters and EMT’s work the 6 pm to 6 am shift, five days a week, plus 24/7 holidays and weekends. For more information on OWL VFD, become a fan on their Facebook page here.