Bald for a Bigger Cause

Countless hours and dollars are spent each day on trying to attain a perfect hair day. But for Kelsey Trimble '18 and several other members of the local college community, those days are an afterthought for the foreseeable future.

Trimble, a freshman on the Saint Mary's basketball team, leapt at the opportunity to take part in the University of Notre Dame's sixth annual "The Bald and the Beautiful" event last week. She has had the desire to participate in an event for St. Baldrick's for a few years, but had never been part of an organization which held an event for the foundation.

"I feel that no one in life should have to fight a battle this large and especially not a child," said Trimble. "I have had many family [members] and friends fight the battle against cancer in which some have won and some have lost. It is my goal, in raising this money to find the cure, that everyone can win the fight."

St. Baldrick's was developed in 1999, and their first event took place on March 17, 2000. That inaugural event saw 19 people shave their heads while raising $104,000. According to the foundation's website, more than 1,300 events took place in 2013.

For Trimble and the numerous other students who were involved in the Bald and the Beautiful event, there were three options to participate – donate a portion of their hair, purchase hair extensions for someone who has cancer, or shave their heads. Trimble opted for the last.

In order to participate in the head shaving, she had to raise a minimum amount of money. Her efforts, however, went well beyond her initial goal. "I set my beginning goal at $500, and that was quickly surpassed," Trimble recounted. "I ended up raising my goal level multiple times, and my final goal was $5,000."

Even that goal, as it turns out, was exceeded. On the day of her head shaving, Trimble's total fundraising total for St. Baldrick's was $7,075.

The day of the big event came, and Trimble, with many of her basketball teammates by her side, was one of just six women to have their heads shaved. "Attending the Bald and the Beautiful event was an awesome experience," said teammate Eleni Shea '16. "It was very exciting to see Kelsey participate after she worked so hard over the last few months to raise more than $7,000 for the cause! I'm so glad I could be there to witness it and support her."

When asked what she would say to someone considering having their head shaved for a similar event, Trimble responded by saying that she believes that it is worth it to be able to raise money and awareness while trying to find a cure.

"It is so hard to describe the feelings you have after when people talk to you and when survivors tell you how thankful they are," she added. "It is the most amazing experience."

It is safe to say April 15 will always be Kesley Trimble's perfect hair day.