MEDIA ADVISORY: UCSF Child Oncologists to Participate in Head-Shaving Fundraiser
WHAT: In a bold demonstration of support for children fighting cancer, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital will host a St. Baldrick’s Foundation signature head-shaving event where several doctors will go bald to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research. Professional barbers, patients and their parents will wield the hair clippers on some of their favorite doctors. The head shaving celebration will be accompanied by live music, gourmet pizza and beer and artisanal ice cream.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Best time for media is 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Head shaving will begin at 11 a.m.)
WHERE: Atrium Lobby of the Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building
1450 3rd Street, San Francisco
WHO: Mignon Loh, MD, chief of pediatric oncology, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and UCSF pediatric cancer specialists including Amit Sabnis, MD, Theo Nicolaides, MD, Steve Dubois, MD will shave their heads. Former childhood cancer patients and their parents will speak about their experiences fighting cancer.
WHY: Funds raised will go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that hosts worldwide events where volunteers collect pledges and shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, who often lose their hair during chemotherapy. Since 2005, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has given nearly $3 Million to support UCSF’s clinical and basic cancer research programs.
CONTACT: Media interested in covering the event must RSVP to Juliana Bunim (415) 310-8180 or [email protected].
BACKGROUND: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital is an international leader in the research and treatment of childhood cancer. The hospital employs a team of highly skilled compassionate physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers and staff who oversee the coordinated care of children with cancer and their families. UCSF pediatric oncologists play a leading role in multiple clinical trial groups, which are making major advances in improving the survival of children with cancer through state-of- the-art research in childhood leukemia, brain tumors, and neuroblastoma