Clips for Cancer planned during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Aug. 22, 2024 - PRLog -- Clips for Cancer will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bell Tower Shops during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

This year's event theme is "Go Gold for Golisano" in recognition of the gold ribbon.

At Clips for Cancer, childhood cancer survivors and patients shave the heads of community leaders. These leaders help raise money and awareness, showing that being bald is not a sign of weakness but strength in the long fight through chemotherapy treatment.

This year, Clips for Cancer will be center stage at Bell Tower on Saturday, Sept. 21, with all the shaving happening at 10 a.m. inside Dave & Buster's community room. The day will continue with free family friendly activities, including games, animal encounters, first responder meet-and-greet with a touch-a-truck and tours of the first-of-its kind, sensory friendly Golisano Ambulance. A Bell Tower "Go Gold" Shopping & Dining Discount Card will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting Barbara's Friends.

To date, 20 cancer survivors and four children still in cancer treatment are participating in the event.

The community can get involved and support local children with cancer by:

• Becoming a shavee: Sign up to have a pediatric cancer survivor/patient shave your head. Register for $25, set a personal fundraising goal and create a fundraising page to support the cause.
• Donating, fundraising and sponsoring the event.

Sponsors to date include Presenting Sponsor Florida Radiology Consultants, Stage Sponsor Cameratta Companies, Location Sponsors Bell Tower and Dave & Buster's, Salon Sponsor Great Clips, and Media Sponsor Beasley Broadcasting, which will be broadcasting live on site on Sept. 21.

Each year, community support raised during the month of September helps families with children receiving cancer treatment, such as providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from Golisano for daily treatments, paying for medications when insurance will not cover at-home chemo or pain relief drugs, or purchasing meals so parents can stay by their children during treatment. Barbara's Friends also offers college scholarships, so that survivors can apply for college funds.

Donations also help fund medical advances in technology and care, including the addition of pediatric neurosurgical services at Golisano and the first-ever total immersion chemotherapy room at the Golisano Children's Hospital Naples pediatric hematology and oncology clinic.

This year funds from Barbara's Friends helped build the first of its kind, sensory friendly ambulance. Many children with cancer have sensory issues and will benefit from this unique ambulance that will reduce stress and anxiety on the way to the hospital.

For information on this year's event and sponsorship opportunities, visit BarbarasFriends.org/ClipsForCancer (https://leehealthfoundation.org/event/clips-for-cancer/) or email Amy.Frith@LeeHealth.org.