More than 20 years ago, toddler Ciara Fleming was diagnosed with a highly aggressive and rare childhood cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma, and was put into a 48-week chemotherapy trial that saved her life.
The year after she recovered, her father, Donal, got involved with a fledgling organization called St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which was founded by two New Yorkers who wanted to raise money for pediatric cancer research and funding.
In 2003, Donal raised money for the organization and volunteered to participate in his first St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event, a feat he has done at least 20 times since.
St. Baldrick’s is a play on St. Patrick and Bald, with volunteers having their heads shaved by a professional barber in solidarity with the children who lose theirs through harsh chemotherapy.
Since its founding, the national organization has garnered $250 million, and Fleming and his family alone have raised $1 million. They celebrate the achievement at a St. Patrick’s weekend head-shaving event that is held each year at Fado Buckhead.
This year, Donal said he will again be shorn on March 14 at Fado in Buckhead, and expects that the local event will raise about $60,000.
Ciara, 25, now healthy, is a UGA graduate and working in the medical field, who along with her dad, is the co-organizer of the 24th Annual St. Baldrick’s event in Fado Irish Pub in Buckhead.
“Volunteers at our event have gone on to organize their own events raising more than $8 million here in Atlanta and as far as Greenville, SC and Murphreesboro, TN,” Donal said.
Ciara said although her memories of her treatment are hazy, she has grown to appreciate the importance of being a beacon of hope to parents whose children have been diagnosed, or are undergoing treatment.
She said the event has become a family affair, with her brother even getting a mohawk one year, which, she said, “was not really a good look for him.”
The 24th Annual St. Baldrick’s at Fado Buckhead will be held March 14, 4-6 p.m. Fado Irish Pub, 273 Buckhead Ave, Atlanta,
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