The Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation just wrapped up their 19th annual Shave for the Brave event.
Each year around St. Patrick's Day, the non-profit asks the community to completely shave their heads in support of childhood cancer research.
Attendees got to enjoy games like cornhole, face painting, a photobooth, food and drink vendors, and of course there's the main event where our 2 News Nevada legend, Kristen Remington, emceed the show talking with the supporters there to get their heads shaved.
"We do a big count down and it's 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, they start shaving heads," said Jessica Lee, Director of Development for Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation. "We're going to shave about 150 heads tonight."
While there are so many different ways to raise funds and awareness for children's cancer, Lee says there's a reason why they ask people to shave their heads.
"It's something that our kiddos don't have that choice, so you know a lot of them lose their hair. We're just here, bald is beautiful, its awareness, it puts out that message, and we just want those who are fighting this battle to know they are not alone.," she said.
Since 2006, the non-profit, working with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, has raised over $3.4 million with this event, shaving more than 4,700 local heads.
They have already beat their goal of raising over $150,000, ending the night with nearly $170,000.
"That means that we beat last year's goal, and we've kind of started getting back into it slow since COVID, so we're really excited," said Lee. "We used to raise about $200,000 so we'd love to get back there, so it looks like we're on the right track."
Participants raise money by collecting donations or pledges in order to shave their heads on stage.
One person says he's been getting his head shaved for 15 years.
"I'm a leukemia survivor," said Jeff Ryan, a participant. "I was diagnosed in 1981 and I've been in complete remission for 37 years."
Ryan says that St. Baldrick's means a lot to him because of the efforts they put in towards child cancer research.
"It's really near and dear to my heart that every comes out and supports the cause," he said.
