More than 80 Saltus students and relatives will be shaving their heads in the annual St Baldrick’s event at the school today.

Many more people across the Island have agreed to chop off their locks in aid of the charity.

The St Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers.

It’s been estimated that worldwide a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes.

Since 2005, St Baldrick’s has raised more than $127 million.

Saltus pupils and their parents will be raising funds for the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. As of yesterday, Saltus had already exceeded its goal of $120,000.

In addition, Locks of Love (www. Locksoflove.org) will benefit as there will be several girls from Upper Primary and two from Secondary, along with two mothers, one teacher, and a sister from BHS — whose brother is participating. They will be donating their hair to provide hair pieces for children with long term medically related hair loss.

Of these, three will have their heads shaved as well.

Upper Primary students and relatives, including Saltus trustee Andy Pereira, will join in. Some will be having their hair cut for Locks of Love — 24 secondary students, one dad and one aunt.

The special overseas guest this year is Susan Heard, director of partnerships for the St Baldrick’s Foundation, who will be visiting the school.

“Susan Heard began volunteering and fundraising with St Baldrick’s when her son David told her, ‘Science has failed me and that is why I’m going to die’,” said one of the organisers.

“He went on to say ‘Mom, use your voice to change the fate of all the courageous kids still battling cancer’.

“In the past St Baldrick’s Foundation grant cycle there has been a variety of funding given to doctors looking at promising new therapies in neuroblastoma, the cancer that took David’s life.”

Ms Heard said: “That is the progress David was hoping for and that is why my family continues to commit ourselves to fundraising for St Baldrick’s.”

Among the guests who will attend are Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s executive director, Tara Soares, and BCHC’s marketing and fundraising manager, Deborah Titterton Narraway, whose daughter is also participating.

Hairdressers from a number of salons are volunteering their time — Salon Visage, The Cutting Room, Salon 27, Bang Bang Hair, and TK Hair.

For more information, contact Jon Beard, Director of Advancement at Saltus, at jbeard@saltus.bm or 292-6177 ext. 6279.