Missouri Southern’s Student Senate will host the Fourth Annual St. Baldrick’s Day event on March 12 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Young Gymnasium.

The event is a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Volunteers raise money and awareness to benefit childhood cancer research by shaving their heads. In addition to shaved heads, the event will feature games, a silent action, food and a band, along with other activities.

According to Student Senate Vice President Brittany Lampe, the event has grown every year.

“The first year we brought in $3,000 and we brought in just shy of $10,000 [last year],” Lampe said. “Obviously the donations have increased but so has the size of the event along with the amount of shaves.”

Student Senate has teamed up to support Pantene’s Beautiful Length program as part of the event. Individuals who have more than eight inches cut off can donate the hair to go toward making a wig.

Hair to be donated cannot be dyed or contain chemicals at the time of the donation.

“City Pointe Beauty Academy of Webb City is actually helping us with green hair extensions and mini manicures for a small donation,” Lampe said.

December 2013 graduate Samantha Evans volunteered last year to shave her head. She will return this year to support the event.

“I knew immediately I would shave my head,” she said. “You hear all these stories about little kids and it really tugs at your heart.”

Evans said she also did it to honor her grandmother, who died at a young age from breast cancer. The experience helped Evans see past her own looks and what other saw in her and boosted her self-confidence as a result.

“It’s not something that everyone should or can do,” Evans said. “It takes a lot of courage or balls to get up there and shave your head for a child you can’t see. You need to keep a vision in your head about what you are doing and why.”

Scott Cragin, professor of business administration, will be shaving his head during the St. Baldrick’s Day event. Cragin said fellow faculty member Joy Dworkin inspired him to participate after she raised almost $4,000 by shaving her head last year.

“My goal is half of that, and I am about a quarter of the way there,” Cragin said.

Cragin said his colleagues and students have been supportive. His mother even donated some money. Cragin’s plan is to let the crowd decide how much he will shave or what haircut he will have afterward.

“This is on the table as well,” Cragin said, grabbing his goatee. “It’s all on the table.”

Donations can be made to the individuals participating either before or during the event or by visiting www.stbaldricks.org and searching for MSSU Young Gym.