Westsider’s raise money for St. Baldrick’s cancer research.

St. Baldrick’s head shaving events started as a challenge between businessmen and has grown from one event in 2000 to over 1,300 events in 2012. These events have raised critical funds for childhood cancer research. The events take place in bars, restaurants, schools, churches, parks, malls, etc. On March 24, one of these head shaving events took place at Temple Israel which is a Jewish place of worship in Omaha.

Two Westside seniors, Ariel Kohl and Hannah Radler, shaved their heads to donate to kids with cancer. This is the third time that Kohl has donated her hair for cancer patients.

“My dad passed away from leukemia when I was 10 years old…I was ready for a change and I figured that this was the right way to do it,” said Kohl.

This is the first time that Radler has shaved her head for an organization. She got the idea while working at a camp for kids with cancer.

“I did it to sort of stand up for the kids and I guess to show them that it’s not as scary as they think to lose their hair…they are the bravest kids I have ever met,” said Radler.

Radler and Kohl planned ahead of time to shave their heads, during the event one of their friends told the girls that if they could raise $100 more dollars, he would shave his head with them. The girls were able to raise the money bringing the number of shavee’s to three.

The two girls alone raised a total of over $1000 to donate to childhood cancer research.