St. Baldrick’s Foundation photo: This child participates in St. Baldrick’s event for cancer research.

Looking for a way to give back? Mercyhurst’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) is working with St. Baldrick’s Foundation to coordinate a “Bare It All for Childhood Cancer Research” head-shaving event on Saturday, March 23, from 1-4 p.m. at Molly Brannigans Irish Pub.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a childhood cancer charity that funds research to help find cures for kids with cancer. It is the leading childhood cancer research foundation in America. The event the club is organizing is to promote the cause and raise money for children with cancer.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation photo: The organization encourages people to help the cause.

“PRSSA is dedicated to creating learning opportunities for all of our student members, but in learning to do so we are blessed to have the opportunity to follow in our Mercy tradition and give back. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation provides numerous resources to help us host a successful event,” senior Joe Pudlick said.

The club chose Molly Brannigans for the event because St. Baldrick’s was started by people of Irish descent, so PRSSA felt this was a fitting location. In addition, the pub is located at 5th and State Street, which is a prime destination for not only the Mercyhurst community, but also the entire Erie community.

To become involved, you can pledge to shave your head, donate, or volunteer at the event. If you take the plunge to shave your head, you receive a button that says why you shaved your head. Or you can donate by purchasing a “lucky charm,” which is $1 and you will write your name on it to have it displayed in Molly Brannigans. All of the proceeds go to St. Baldrick’s.

You can sign up on the St. Baldrick’s website at stbaldricks.org or through the Facebook page “St. Baldrick’s -– Bare It All for Childhood Cancer Research.”

If you don’t want to become involved you can still attend the event to cheer on your friends that are shaving their heads for the cause, while enjoying the delicious pub food.

“For clubs and departments looking for a simple way to give back, this is it. It’s such an easy way to raise money and awareness for a cause that has in some way affected each and every one of us,” Pudlick said.

So whether you want to shave your head, donate or volunteer your time come to the “Bare It All for Childhood Cancer Research” event on March 23 to support life-saving childhood cancer research.