Crime & Safety

Plymouth Firefighters Go Bald For A Good Cause

Join the Plymouth Fire Department at its second annual St. Baldrick's Fundraiser event.

Bald has never looked better.

Or at least that's the hope shared by 13 Plymouth firefighters and two youth who will be shaving their heads at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at the Plymouth Fire Station No. 2.

The Plymouth Fire Department is having its second annual St. Baldrick's Day fundraising event to support the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

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"Plymouth Fire is big into fundraising," said Deputy Fire Chief Kip Springer who participated last year with his son Kyle. "Members of the department participate in several events throughout the year including the Polar Bear Plunge, the Fight for Air Climb, IDS stair climb, Blanket drives, Salvation Army Bell ringing, Relay for Life, etc."

The event started Dec. 25, 2011, with participants pledging to not get a haircut, then on the following St. Patrick's Day they have their heads shaved bald.

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"Firefighters from Plymouth Fire, Wayzata Fire, Fridley Fire, Airport Fire, St. Paul Fire and Eden Prairie Fire are amongst some of the departments represented at the event," Springer said. "We have a local barber who is donating their time to assist with the shaving.The two children participating are my son Kyle (age 10) and my nephew Ryan (age 11)."

Springer said he wasn't sure of the exact dollar amount raised last year, but it was several thousand dollars. So far this year, the group has raised more than $1,500 with online pledges.

For Springer the importance for participating is personal.

"I had a cousin who died from cancer at the age of 1," Springer said. "My son Kyle who is participating in the event was named after my cousin who died."

Springer said he believes everyone has a story about someone they know affected by cancer. 

"And if raising money by shaving my head will help to find a cure, I am all in,"  he said.

 



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