Clips for Cancer will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bell Tower Shops during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
This year’s event theme is “Go Gold for Golisano” in recognition of the gold ribbon, an awareness symbol for childhood cancer. The entire community is invited to Go Gold and Fight Like a Kid, from braving the shave and fundraising or donating in support of Barbara’s Friends – Golisano Children’s Hospital’s cancer fund.
At Clips for Cancer, childhood cancer survivors and patients shave the heads of community leaders. These leaders help raise money and awareness, showing that being bald is not a sign of weakness but strength in the long fight through chemotherapy treatment.
This year, Clips for Cancer will be center stage at Bell Tower on Saturday, Sept. 21, with all the shaving happening at 10 a.m. inside Dave & Buster’s community room. The day will continue with free family friendly activities, including games, animal encounters, first responder meet-and-greet with a touch-a-truck and tours of the first-of-its kind, sensory friendly Golisano Ambulance. A Bell Tower “Go Gold” Shopping & Dining Discount Card will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting Barbara’s Friends.
To date, 20 cancer survivors and four children still in cancer treatment are participating in the event. Just a few of the survivor and patient stories to be featured include:
- Jordan DeLorenzo, 18, from Cape Coral, who finally has a full head of hair after his treatment for cancer that was diagnosed at age 12. He will be going bald in honor of his best friend, Adyn Pickett, a childhood cancer patient who passed away in 2022. The May 2024 graduate from Ida Baker High School, who has participated in all six Clips for Cancer events as a shaver, will have his head shaved by Adyn’s sister, Abby Pickett.
- Estero resident Griffin Stryker, 8, brother of Logan Stryker, 10, a cancer patient who lost his battle with cancer this summer. Logan was named 2023 Outstanding Philanthropic Youth in Southwest Florida for his efforts in raising over $30,000 for Golisano’s Children’s Hospital, and specifically, the slushy machine on the oncology floor that bears his name. In his brother’s honor, Griffin will be shaving the head of Justin Brand, director of development for Golisano with the Lee Health Foundation.
- Estero resident Libbi LeDuff, 5, who has participated in three years of Clips and has a toy drive every year to give back to the cancer floor at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
- Naples resident Addi Hall, 6, who is due to finish her treatment for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in September. She will shave the head of her dad Geoff, who plans to celebrate the end of her treatment and the other children at the hospital by raising $5,000.
The community can get involved and support local children with cancer by:
- Becoming a shavee: Sign up to have a pediatric cancer survivor/patient shave your head. Register for $25, set a personal fundraising goal and create a fundraising page to support the cause.
- Donating, fundraising and sponsoring the event.
Sponsors to date include Presenting Sponsor Florida Radiology Consultants, Stage Sponsor Cameratta Companies, Location Sponsors Bell Tower and Dave & Buster’s, Salon Sponsor Great Clips, and Media Sponsor Beasley Broadcasting, which will be broadcasting live on site on Sept. 21.
Each year, community support raised during the month of September helps families with children receiving cancer treatment, such as providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from Golisano for daily treatments, paying for medications when insurance will not cover at-home chemo or pain relief drugs, or purchasing meals so parents can stay by their children during treatment. Barbara’s Friends also offers college scholarships, so that survivors can apply for college funds.
Donations also help fund medical advances in technology and care, including the addition of pediatric neurosurgical services at Golisano and the first-ever total immersion chemotherapy room at the Golisano Children’s Hospital Naples pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.
This year funds from Barbara’s Friends helped build the first of its kind, sensory friendly ambulance. Many children with cancer have sensory issues and will benefit from this unique ambulance that will reduce stress and anxiety on the way to the hospital.
For information on this year’s event and sponsorship opportunities, visit BarbarasFriends.org/ClipsForCancer or email Amy.Frith@LeeHealth.org.
About Barbara’s Friends – Helping Kids with Cancer at Golisano Children’s Hospital
Established in 1995, Barbara’s Friends provides equipment, staffing and services to support lifesaving cancer care for children from across Southwest Florida at Golisano Children’s Hospital. The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program is the only program of its kind in Southwest Florida and has served over 12,000 patients since opening. No child is denied treatment or turned away as a result of their family’s inability to pay for care. For more information about Barbara’s Friends fund and supporting child patients in your community, please call Lee Health Foundation at (239) 343-6950 or visit BarbarasFriends.org.
