On Friday, identifying with their patients will take on a whole new meaning for Alfred Grovas, M.D. and Bruce Gordon, M.D., oncologists at UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center.
The two doctors and other medical center staff have agreed to shave their heads to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which helps children with cancer. The shave-a-thon will be in the Durham Outpatient Center West Atrium from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A local barber has volunteered to do the shaving. The following week, the doctors will head to Camp CoHoLo (an acronym for Courage, Hope and Love) in Gretna, with many of their young cancer patients.
“It’s hard enough for kids with cancer to deal with being sick, let alone looking sick too, without their hair,” said Suzanne Nuss, R.N., Ph.D., pediatric oncology clinical nurse specialist at The Nebraska Medical Center. “Now these doctors will sport the same ‘do’ at camp to show support and solidarity for how their young patients are feeling. At the same time, they will likely raise a few eyebrows and awareness for the support of cancer research.”
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation was started in 1999 and is the world’s biggest volunteer fund-raising program for childhood cancer. Each year, childhood cancer takes the lives of more U.S. children than any other disease. In spite of that, national funding for childhood cancer research has slipped in recent years, and events like this head-shaving challenge will help to fill the gap and start conversations.
If you are interested in donating to St. Baldrick’s Foundation, contact Sue Nuss at slnuss@nebraskamed.com or by phone at 559-6589. Donations also will be accepted at the event.