LB Firefighters Brave a Shave for Kids with Cancer

Over the last few months, Long Beach Firefighters have teamed up with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to support children fighting childhood cancers. Culminating at two different events located at Millikan High School and the Long Beach Fire Regional Training Center, firefighters came together and shaved their heads to support the cause.

The Long Beach Fire Department was led by team captain Jim Fraser, who is on his fourth year of shaving his head for a cure to childhood cancer. “I wasn’t going to shave, but then a friend of mine posted on Facebook that her son, Austin Angel, was sick and needed help.” That prompted Fraser to take action. Raising more than $3,000 personally, Jim Fraser was the top donating participant for the “Long Beach Shaves for Kids” event. In addition, Long Beach Firefighters Local 372 & Friends doubled their original fundraising goal, and have raised more than $22,500 this year.

More than 80 Long Beach Firefighters showed their support by shaving their heads towards childhood cancer research. Participants who have volunteered to shave their heads for seven or more consecutive years were inducted into the foundation’s “League of Legendary Heroes”. Heads were shaved by volunteers that included barbers from Supercuts, Ohana Barbers, and Floyd’s 99 Barber Shop.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation celebrates their 17th anniversary of their first head-shaving event. Since 2000, they have raised more than $200 million towards childhood cancer research. Events specifically occurring in Long Beach have raised more than $1 million. The Baldrick’s Foundation is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants in the nation.