April 29, 2010

Bald Falcon Event at Dr. Knox to raise $50,000 for Cancer Patients

KELOWNA, BC: On April 30, at 11:25 a.m., more than 50 students and staff at Dr. Knox Middle School will lose their hair to support BC Children’s Hospital and cancer patients in need of wigs.  More than 100 students have dedicated themselves to collecting pledges to meet their goal of $50,000.

Over the past five years, Dr. Knox has held a variety of fundraisers to benefit the BC Children’s Hospital but the main event is an all-school celebration and hair cutting extravaganza called the Bald Falcon Day.

Each year, the event has grown: from $2,000 in the first year with one student and one staff member offering to lose their hair, to last year, when they raised $50,000 and 55 students and three staff members lost their hair.

This year, organizer David Lafontaine is happy to report a surprising addition to the fundraising efforts.  “Tom Budd, a great supporter of our schools, is donating to BC Children's Hospital based upon the number of students sacrificing their hair,” says Lafontaine.  “His incentive plan reads as follows: $100 each for a bald boy or girl or a ponytail cut,  $200 for bald boy or girl with hair up to 12 inches long, and $500 for a bald boy or girl with extremely long hair, over 15 inches of hair.”

One of the leading student fundraisers, Meagan Butchart posts this message on her website:

“On Tuesday, March 30, 2010, I joined with many other students of Dr. Knox Middle School to help support the BC Children's Hospital….I wanted to participate in this because I have benefited from the care I received at this Hospital.  The doctors, nurses, and staff were very kind and helpful to me. 

Based on the amount of pledges I receive, I could possibly win a gift certificate to our local mall.  If I were to receive a gift certificate I would like to donate it back to our community by purchasing stickers or craft supplies for our own Children's Ward at the Kelowna General Hospital.  I know how these small gifts after treatments lifted my spirits.”

This year, Lafontaine expects that at least 50 students will offer to have their hair cut for wigs along with a parent and Adrian Piebenga from Operations in support of his wife and other cancer patients.

.Approved by the Superintendent on April 29, 2010

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For comments, please contact:

David Lafontaine, Teacher, Dr. Knox Middle School, (250) 762-8177 (ext. 4942)

Daryl Graf, Principal, Dr. Knox Middle School, (250) 762-8177

Hugh Gloster, Superintendent of Schools, School Board Office, (250) 860-8888

For background information, please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.