The Ewing High School wrestling team recently faced off against Allentown and Pennsville and came away with two losses.
It was after the meet, though, that the real win took place. Several weeks ago, head coach Matt Dalessio was diagnosed with cancer. He informed the boys shortly after his diagnosis, and they quickly came together and decided to take a stand against the disease by raising funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
St. Baldrick’s is best known for its fundraising technique in which volunteers show solidarity with cancer victims by shaving their heads in return for contributions. The boys set a goal of raising $5,000, and achieved that amount in only two weeks. On Feb. 6, 31 young men and one young lady fulfilled their commitment and were shaved. A number of Ewing High School teachers held their own event in an additional show of solidarity.
The team thanked Urge Fitness Center for making one of its rooms available for the event, and Tracy Ash and Karen Buckley, hair stylists at Robert Marks Salon in Ewing, for donating their time and talents to do the actual cutting.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long, healthy lives. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has become the largest private funder of childhood cancer research, dedicating over $178 million to the cause since the year 2000.
Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every three minutes. One in five will not survive. More children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease. There are over a dozen types of childhood cancers and countless subtypes making it more challenging for researchers to find cures for every kid. With the National Cancer Institute providing less than 4 percent of its budget to pediatric cancers, the bulk of responsibility lies with foundations to fund research.
The donations continue to roll in with the total climbing above $7000. Anyone interested in donating can visit stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/12396/2016.
