OWL VFD to host 16th St. Baldrick’s fundraising event
Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (OWL VFD) is excited to host a fundraising benefit for St. Baldrick’s Childhood Cancer Research Foundation. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, March 11th, at Fire Station 2, located at 1306 F Street, Woodbridge. The event is scheduled to start at 6:01 p.m.
After a two-year hiatus, the OWL VFD is excited to bring back the charity event. The department began fundraising for St. Baldrick’s in 2006 and, in 15 years, has raised over $400,000.
Participants raise money by seeking donations in return for shaving their heads. The head-shaving is representative of hair loss many children experience while undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Money will also be raised through a silent auction. Businesses and organizations interested in donating items and services for the auction may contact OWL VFD by email. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a registered nonprofit organization; therefore, all donations are tax write-offs.
The 2023 event is open to the public. Participants interested in having their heads shaved at the March 11th event may sign-up at OWL VFD’s St. Baldrick’s event page.
The head shaving will be done by The Barber Shop & Co. The family-owned business has volunteered its professional barbers each year that OWL VFD has hosted a St. Baldrick’s fundraising event.
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History of OWL VFD’s fundraising for St. Baldrick’s
One of the retention benefits for department members includes social events. Among these is the 6:01 Club parties, aptly named because they begin at 6:01 p.m.
In 2006, Life Member Tony Carroll, while serving as the Assistant Chief for the department’s recruitment and retention efforts, decided to tie in the charity effort during a March 6:01 Club Party to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. Carroll was inspired by other fire and rescue departments participating in St. Baldrick’s fundraising.
“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 with OWL VFD, explained. “As it gained momentum, we started spotlighting some local kids that had been impacted by cancer,” she added.
These included Zach Wessolleck, a current member and son of Life Members Harry and Sue Wessolleck. Also, Trevor Blake, Parker Boyd, and Isla Lucks. Blake, a Woodbridge resident, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. He attended OWL VFD’s St. Baldrick’s event a few times before losing his battle with cancer in 2013 at age 11. Boyd, also a Woodbridge resident, lost his battle with cancer in 2008 at age 9. His family has attended the event a few times, as well. Lucks, also known as “Isla the Fierce,” was 15 months old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma.
St. Baldrick’s raises money for children fighting childhood cancer. According to St. Baldrick’s, “Worldwide, 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer yearly. 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.”
St. Baldrick’s prioritizes its research to make the most significant impact possible in fighting childhood cancer. Over the years, several other fire departments have joined in OWL VFD’s events. 100% of contributions go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
