Doctors and volunteers shaved their heads to raise money for children’s cancer research Wednesday night at Kezar Pub in San Francisco.
Dr. Kate Matthay is chief of the pediatric oncology unit at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Matthay, featured in the video, was the only woman volunteer. She said a young patient and the child’s mother—both battling cancer—inspired her to do it.
The youngest volunteer was 14-year-old Alex Ferrand. His best friend from childhood is fighting cancer of the cheek muscle. (Both Alex and friend Sean Kelly are featured in the video.) Ferrand says it’s hard to watch his friend suffer, so he showed his support by going bald.
Almost a dozen doctors volunteered. At last count, they had raised $23,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a non-profit organization that has contributed almost $770,000 to support UCSF’s cancer research programs.