CORNING, NY (WENY) -- On March 22nd, the Corning Area Saint Baldrick's Foundation will host its annual shave event, to help raise money for childhood cancer research. This is the foundation's biggest fundraiser, and people young and old do it to support a good cause.

"Saint Baldrick's has been around for about 25 years. We've had shave events locally for about 15 years. After COVID, it took a little bit of a hit, but [for] the last three years, we've really been bringing it back... We have [about] 35 people registered to shave their heads," said Volunteer Event Organizer with the Corning Area St. Baldrick's, Amy Harpster.

The shave event is on March 22nd from 1 to 4 p.m. at Carey's Brew House in Corning. There will be raffles, drink specials, and face painting. Teams and even people on a whim brave the buzzers for this event.

"Shaving your head is certainly not for everyone, it's something you really have to think about. This will be my seventh year doing it and I considered it for about five years before I actually did it. [It's] definitely something you don't want to jump into... The first time I did it, it was terrifying. I was really nervous because you don't know what you'll look like without any hair [and] it's a bit scary. Then the year after I didn't do it, I regretted [it.] So, every year since then, I've participated," said Harpster.

Two committee members with the local Saint Baldrick's Foundation joined over a decade ago because their kids went through treatment together.

"[My] daughter was diagnosed when she was two and a half and she just turned 17 a couple of weeks ago. So, she actually has a brain tumor ... And she has been on seven different treatments; starting out with chemotherapy..." said Committee Member with Corning Area St. Baldrick's Jill Getola.

Kenzie Spaulding, another Committee Member with the Corning Area St. Baldrick's added, "My son was diagnosed at four with a brain tumor. He's had several brain surgeries; he's been through traditional chemo with a port [and] going to Rochester every week for over a year."

Both Spaulding and Getola said because of donations to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, it's made their kids' lives somewhat easier, especially when the two families were commuting to Rochester multiple times a week.

"Over the years, treatment has been getting easier and easier. The tumor keeps growing and she is on a pill she takes at home now instead of going to Rochester every week," said Getola.

Spaulding added, "Thankfully with all the research with these last couple rounds of chemo he's done, it's more a pill he's taking twice a day that makes it so it's not affecting his daily life. He's not currently on treatment, but we monitor his progress and the stability of his tumor every three months. We travel between Rochester and Buffalo for those appointments."

Spaulding and Getola said the fundraiser is also a way to show parents whose children are through treatment that there's hope.

"The whole idea behind this is raising awareness, but also... When you think there's nothing else out there to help or to treat or medicine, we're living proof that there's always something new around the corner and foundations like this is what makes that possible," said Spaulding.

Harpster encourages those who can, to consider donating. She said even $5 can make a difference. If you'd like to make an online donation, click here. The Corning Area St. Baldrick's fundraising goal is $25,000.