N-W students and staff go Bald for Bucks

Fourteen students and several teachers from Niagara Wheatfield's Edward Town Middle School recently decided to shed their locks for Roswell Park's Bald for Bucks fundraiser.

With the help of Orleans/Niagara BOCES cosmetology teacher Lori Smith and five N-W cosmetology students (Alyssa Fisher, Maria Malvestuto, Melyssa Myers, Megan Perry and Melissa Schmidt), the participants got their hair cut off in front of an auditorium of cheering classmates and teachers.

Fisher who shaved several of the students said the event means a lot to her since she is a cancer survivor herself.

Everyone who participated had a personal reason for raising money for the cause. Caelee Faultersack said she was ready to part with her long curly hair in memory of all her family members who have suffered from the disease. She gave 12 inches to Locks of Love, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair from cancer treatments.

Faultersack's grandmother, Angela Dunn, says she is incredibly proud of her. "She has been growing it forever, and she and her best friend Destyne Kohn decided to do this together and raise money for the cure."

Math teacher Jill Moran raised over $2,000 alone. "My dad is going through chemo for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He has lost his hair, and now I have lost mine, and we'll grow it back together," she said.

All together $5,500 was raised for Roswell Park from the event.

Edward Town Middle School Principal Dr. Laura Palka said, "Roswell is a very important cause. Even though this event was fun, we have to remember there are very few people who do not know someone who has cancer. It touches everyone."