The clippers are out at BAA for St Baldrick's

More than $160,000 has been raised ahead of today’s cancer fundraiser event at BAA.

Forty-seven people have signed up to have their heads shaved today all in the name of charity.

The St Baldrick’s Foundation annual event will  start at 3:30pm in the BAA Gymnasium.

Vanessa O’Flynn, as of Thursday afternoon, had $52,841 raised for St Baldrick’s with Stacey Pimental ($31,105) and Jay Cahill ($19,101) raising large amounts for the cancer research group. 

The participants will watch their locks being buzzed from their heads.

Organiser Kate Daly said there are a lot of people who show interest in the event. In addition to organising the event, she had her head shaved two years ago.

“We’re actually going to start it at 3:30pm because we have 10 people from Rustico who are shaving as a team so they need to be at work at 5:30pm.

“Even though a lot of people won’t be there, we’re going to get them shaved.”

In addition to shaving participants’ heads, there will be raffles, live music by Go Berries, a kids’ section, food and drinks.

“It was a good party last year and it will be this year. Nobody needs to make a donation to get in. They can just come and watch. Most people are coming to see their friends and they already donated.

“Sometimes people come and on the spot decide to shave their heads.

“We might pass a hat around and get donations. It’s a pretty unstructured event. We don’t prevent anyone from shaving.”

Ms Daly said the raffles will be drawn at 8pm and most people should be done being shaved by 8 or 9pm.

“The place will stay open for dancing as long as people want”, she added.

Asked why the community should support the event, Ms Daly said: “It’s for a really worthwhile case. The people are getting up there and doing something pretty outrageous.” n