DC-area pubs buzz with barber clippers to fight childhood cancer – WTOP News

“I think I’ve raised maybe a little over $800 just this year. But since I’ve been doing this for 12 years now, I think I’m upwards of $20,000 that I’ve raised,” said 24-year-old Nedal Eid, who was visiting Arlington from Cleveland. He sported thick, curly red hair that stood straight atop his head before slipping into the barber’s chair.

“The impact that I see on the honored kids and their families,” he said, “it makes it all worth it to go bald.”

Eid had his head shaved at Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub in Arlington, Virginia, while others were taking part in a similar St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser at Boundary Stone on Rhode Island Avenue near First Street in Northwest D.C.

“Our goal was to get to what we did last year, which was $37,000, and we are well on our way to it right now … and for the last six years, we’ve been doing this, we’ve raised about $139,000,” said Kieran McGrath, organizer of the event.

At least one participant planned to surprise his colleagues with his shaved head in a bid to raise more money for childhood cancer research.

“I have not told a lot of my co-workers yet. We want to have a more power punch when they see me at work this week and that’s when I’ll be seeing if they’ll continue to donate,” said Arlington resident Kyle Lewis.

This is the 25th year the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has been raising money for childhood cancer research.

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