College of Pharmacy students raise funds and shave heads to benefit cancer research

Posted: 03/26/2012

They did it primarily with the hope of furthering pediatric cancer research and the opportunities that could be possible upon graduating in 2014 from Roosevelt’s three-year, year-round PharmD program.

And even though the effort has resulted in a drastic, new look for five students in the College of Pharmacy (COP) classroom this week, (Pictured above from left are Matt Baleiko, Ian Karall, Nick Tillman, Tyler Davis and Sean Kennedy), the entire team of students who raised funds and shaved heads on behalf of kids with cancer couldn’t be more proud of its accomplishment – raising $1,845 in March for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“When I came to Roosevelt and heard that we were going to be able to integrate social justice into our work, I knew I would be able to get a lot of people involved in the St. Baldrick’s event,” said COP student Sean Kennedy.

The Plainfield, Ill., resident has been raising money and shaving his head since 2008 to benefit pediatric cancer research made possible by St. Baldrick’s, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding promising research for cures to childhood cancer.

shaving heads

On March 16, Kennedy and four other COP students, Nicolas Tillman of Rock Island, Ill., Tyler Davis of Sterling, Ill., Ian Karall of Palatine, Ill., and Matthew Baleiko of Naperville, Ill., took the challenge and had their heads shaved at Fado Irish Pub in Chicago during one of more than 1,110 fundraising events held this year to benefit St. Baldrick’s. (Being shaved at right are Nick Tillman (left) and Sean Kennedy).

“It’s a wonderful cause, in terms of the research that will be done as a result of our efforts, as well as for all of the people whom we personally know who have had cancer and whom we are able to stand with in solidarity,” said Davis.

Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $78 million in research grants aimed at finding a cure for childhood cancer. During 2012 alone, the organization has raised more than $19.7 million.

The five students who are now temporarily bald were joined by two other COP students, Nancy Caddigan of Dubuque, Iowa, and Katherine Rushing of Geneseo, Ill. The two women didn’t shave their heads, but they did help raise money at COP, the University and beyond. “It’s a great cause. If you have a decent research project, even if you are a student, St. Baldrick’s will help fund it,” said Caddigan.

The original goal was to raise $1,250, a mark the team easily beat.

“Our hearts were definitely in this,” said Kennedy. “We understood that getting into research after graduation can be difficult because of the lack of funding and that St. Baldrick’s work can make a difference. It’s important for us to see that doing research as a young pharmacist really is within the realm of possibility,” he said.

Chicago 430 S. Michigan Ave.Chicago, IL 60605(312) 341-3500 Directions & Maps

Schaumburg 1400 N. Roosevelt Blvd.Schaumburg, IL 60173(847) 619-7300 Directions & Maps

Roosevelt Online http://www.roosevelt.edu/ruonline/