For the third year in a row the Walpole High School Football team participated in the St.  Baldrick’s event, a fundraiser for children’s cancer. The popular program took place on Saturday, November 17, yet again giving  players the opportunity to help raise money to give back to those in need, right in time for the Thanksgiving season.

This year the Rebels raised $12,270 with senior Cam Hanley and junior Kyle Raftery both raising over $1,400. Along with raising money to help cancer research for children, the event is also known for having the participants shave their heads. Many players grew out their hair for several weeks or months leading up to St. Baldrick’s only to watch it all fall off in the span of minutes.

The event kicked off with Kevin Sullivan (a former Walpole High School graduate and football player) thanking all who helped raise money and all who came to help organize the shaving. After, Mr. Kung, (Junior Rebels player Noah Kung’s father) who is an orthopedic oncologist, gave a speech to all in attendence telling them about the work he has done and how every dollar donated helps doctors work toward a cure for childhood cancer.

Mr. Kung specifically gave a speech about one boy that he treated and how at only 17, the boy was diagnosed with cancer. However, they were able to fight and defeat the cancer using arsenic, which previously was looked at only as rat poisoning. After, Mr. Kung’s touching speech, the boys lined up in order of grades to get their heads shaved and the fun ensued.

First up to get their heads shaved were the three top fundraisers: senior Hanley and juniors Raftery and Jake Ciavattone.  Raftery, who arguably had the longest hair on the team, was sad to see his hair go but he knew it was for a good cause. Raftery said, “I had the longest hair here and I was thinking, ‘Wow, I’m going to be cold. I’m going to be freezing.’ My hair has been so long forever and it always keeps my head warm. It was going through my head, but I knew it was for a good cause so I had no problem.”

Head coach Barry Greener was very proud of his team and its dedication to the St. Baldrick’s program and went on to say, “Every kid on the team did something, 100 percent participation.” While the team has now successfully raised money from each of the last three years for the event (totaling $36,895). Junior Connor Moriarty believes the team spirit is far from over. He said, “When next year rolls around we will definitely be ready to fundraise and hopefully beat the amount that we raised this year.”