Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation
Instagram
Facebook
775-825-0888
icon-phone
3550 Barron Way #9a • Reno, Nevada 89511
Location
kites
Why We Shave
titles_underlne

Shave for the Brave – Why we shave and how you can help.

Shavee kissing another participant's shaved headThe Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation supports finding a cure for childhood cancer and has helped fundraise for research by hosting its Shave for the Brave event each year in March. This year, NNCCF is striving to make the 17th Annual Shave for the Brave event the best one yet!

Shave for the Brave is a family-friendly event, and supporters are encouraged to watch the spectacle of 200 heads shaved on the grand stage at the Reno Ballroom. To participate, register as a shavee and start fundraising, or join us to cheer on our fundraising teams at the event on March 4th!

Since 2006, NNCCF has shaved more than 4,000 local heads and raised $3 million for childhood cancer research. NNCCF is not a research organization, but its mission includes advocating for increased research funds for childhood cancer. Hosting the annual Shave for the Brave event helps NNCCF support pediatric cancer research and the overall search for a cure. NNCCF partnered with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation because it is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research.

Why is fundraising for NNCCF’s Shave for the Brave event important?
Here are some facts that you should know:
Shave for the Brave 2020 Statistics:

NNCCF’s Shave for the Brave 2021 event in Reno raised $116,723 for childhood cancer research. 114 people shaved their heads from home during the virtual event held on zoom.

The community’s support is needed to help reach new 2021 goals. Each team will be fundraising to support childhood cancer research. Many teams honor a child that has been affected by cancer, and your donation will help recognize those children and their journey with cancer.

Here’s how the Shave for the Brave event works:

“Barbers” are certified cosmetologists who volunteer each year for the event and shave the participant’s head with clippers. “Shavees” can raise money by collecting pledges from family, friends, and members of the community to support childhood cancer research. The participants can pre-register online where there’s an opportunity to sign up as an individual or join a team. The Shave for the Brave fundraising platform is easy to use and individualized pages for each Shavee can be shared easily with friends and family.

Teams and participants can sign up here!

All donations will go directly to the St. Baldrick’s general foundation fund.

The fundraising goal for the 2022 Shave for the Brave event is $100,000, with your help, this is possible. Please donate to support childhood cancer research here. The Shave for the Brave fundraising event is your chance support childhood cancer research and local children affected in northern Nevada. In the first sixteen years of Shave for the Brave, our northern Nevada community has raised over $3,000,000 to support critical research for a cure and improved treatment for pediatric cancer, but we cannot stop now!

 

It’s not too late to help NNCCF support childhood cancer research and the search for a cure.

Our goal is to raise $200,000 to support more research grants and clinical trials that can save kid’s lives. We are almost there! Visit to donate.

On Friday, March 15, 2019, we held our 14th annual Shave for the Brave event to raise funds for childhood cancer research. At the downtown Reno Ballroom, we hosted 223 participants to shave their heads in support of finding a cure for cancer. Participants from all around Nevada joined this spectacular event.

St. Baldrick's Head ShaveThank you to our participants and the generous people supporting our participants for contributing to childhood cancer research. The success of our Shave of the Brave event is because of you, and we are grateful for your generous hearts.

As of today, participants and donors have raised $182,154, but the fundraising isn’t over. The community is still finding ways to raise funds and help researchers find better treatments. If you would like to support our event, an individual or a team to reach their fundraising goal, click here. The 2019 grand total of money raised for childhood cancer research will be announced in July when the event officially wraps up.

Remember – childhood cancer research helps adults too! According to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation “Much of what we know about treating adult cancers has been learned from childhood cancer research. Some aspects of cancer treatment today, such as combination chemotherapy, can be traced to pediatric cancer research.”

Fundraising for our Shave for the Brave event is unique because of the head-shaving element. Participants collect donations and pledges to reach their goal, then they step onto the big stage and a barber shaves their head. Many participants shave in memory or in honor of a family member, friend, coworker or another inspirational individual – some participants are cancer survivors themselves.

Our first head-shaving event for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation took place in 2006. We shaved 61 heads and raised $86,399 for childhood cancer research. Since our first event, we have seen significant advances in childhood cancer research and treatments available. Today, about 90% of kids with the most common type of cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, will live and join the growing population of long-term childhood cancer survivors.

Last year, our Shave for the Brave event was the 16th highest revenue-raising event (out of 1,081 events) for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. And with our help, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation was able to give more than 140 grants to some of the best childhood cancer researchers in the world in 2018. This included more than 230 institutions conducting 116 clinical trials for children with cancer.

We chose the St. Baldrick’s Foundation because they focus solely on childhood cancer research. Their mission is to find cures for childhood cancers and to give survivors long and healthy lives. They are the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants and give kids nationwide access to the very latest in research and clinical trials. They are also great at reviewing grants and only fund the very best in childhood cancer research.

It is part of our mission at NNCCF to advocate for increased research funds, which also includes us doing our own fundraising for childhood cancer research. While we are able to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer in northern Nevada by providing financial assistance and compassionate support programs, we also support the research that will help them beat cancer.

For more pictures of Shave for the Brave 2019, check out our album on Facebook.

Impact of Covid-19 on Local Childhood Cancer Families

April 2020

The Covid-19 crisis has become the greatest healthcare challenge in modern history. As the number of people infected increases across the U.S., childhood cancer patients and their families are suddenly facing new challenges to an already devastating disease.

First and foremost, cancer patients are among those at the highest risk of effectively fighting a virus. They face the possibility of serious illness and complications compared to someone who is healthy because of weakened immune systems from treatment. The majority of families who have a child in treatment for cancer are on high alert and experiencing a surge of stress and fear for their child’s life.

Childhood cancer does not stop for Covid-19 and patients still need treatment. Doctors and patients are facing the difficult challenge of evaluating the risk of missing treatment against the possible exposure to the virus. If it is decided that treatment is necessary, families must leave the safety of their home and travel to hospitals and clinics. Travel has become increasingly difficult and can heighten the risk of exposure. With airline flights not an option at this time, some northern Nevada families are driving up to 10 hours, one way, to receive the specialty care necessary for their treatment.

If accommodations are needed while traveling for treatment, families have been struggling to find safe and affordable alternatives as many locations of Ronald McDonald Houses and hotels are closed due to the pandemic. Once patients are at the hospital, social activities and programs have been canceled and they are facing strict isolation and loneliness. Most hospitals are only allowing one support person to accompany each patient, so families are facing the difficult decision of who will stay with the child.

In northern Nevada, the economic strains families are facing due to Covid-19 is extremely high. Many families we serve are out of work due to the closures of casinos, bars, restaurants and other tourism fed industries. We have seen a drastic increase in requests for assistance with groceries, utilities, rents and mortgages.

NNCCF is also facing a severe decrease in donations due to the economic impact and stay at home order. In just one month, two of our most successful community partner fundraising events were canceled resulting in a $100,000 loss to the organization. With the uncertainty of the future, it is probable that more fundraising events will be forced to cancel and the organization’s revenue will be greatly reduced.

Press release – 

NNCCF And San Francisco Giants Broadcasters To Host Third Annual A Giant Event for Childhood Cancer

(Reno, NV) – The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) and San Francisco Giants broadcasters, Mike Krukow, Jon Miller, Duane Kuiper and Dave Flemming, will virtually host the third annual A Giant Event for Childhood Cancer. This event supports children who are battling cancer in northern Nevada.

The San Francisco Giants broadcasters will tell unheard stories, recollect memorable baseball moments and guarantee a couple of horselaughs between the broadcasters and fans alike. This event will feature one-of-a-kind auction items, including sports memorabilia, custom gold ribbon guitars autographed by baseball legends including Barry Bonds, experience packages and much more.

A Giant Event for Childhood Cancer will also feature special guests, Buster Posey, catcher for the San Francisco Giants, and his wife Kristen Posey, who have made it their mission to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer.

When

Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 6PM-7:30PM

Where

Virtual broadcast and online auction – link available upon purchase

Tickets, Social and Sponsor Packages

Online: nvchildrenscancer.ejoinme.org/giantevent

Call: (775) 351-1064

Learn More: www.NVChildrensCancer.org/Giants

United in the fight against cancer, A Giant Event for Childhood Cancer will benefit NNCCF and local children, along with supporting childhood cancer research through the Posey Family Research Grants. NNCCF has provided $5.6 million in direct financial assistance to families in northern Nevada affected by childhood cancer and has raised $3 million in support for finding better treatments and a cure for childhood cancer. NNCCF assists approximately 120 families each year who actively seek assistance for costs associated with medical bills, travel related to treatment, loss of work and income due to their child’s diagnosis, emotional support programs and more. The Posey Family Research Grants has raised more than $4 million for pediatric cancer research since 2016.

###

The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is celebrating 20 years of providing help, hope and courage to local children battling cancer. NNCCF is the only non-profit in the region solely dedicated to childhood cancer, and has provided $5.6 million in direct financial support to families. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire survivorship program, Hope for the Holidays program and emotional support through end-of-treatment celebrations and family activities. For more information, call (775) 825-0888, visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org or follow on social media @NVKidsCancer.

By Lindsey Gross

Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) has a broader definition of “child” than most foundations. While NNCCF helps many children under the age of 18, the foundation also provides financial support for young adults under the age of 21*. Unfortunately, some families with young adults battling cancer are unaware that they are eligible for assistance. NNCCF aims to inform the community that the foundation has resources and support available for young adults.

Johnny Hartman, 19, receiving chemo treatment for lymphoma

One family recently learned that their son was eligible solely by coincidence. John Hartman heard on the radio that NNCCF was hosting radiothon at Scheels, the foundation’s 12-hour finale to a five-month campaign raising awareness and funds to help local children in their fight against cancer. John is a father of twin 19-year-old boys, Johnny and Richard. Johnny, a sophomore at CalPoly State University, was recently diagnosed with lymphoma. John was touched by his family’s experience and decided to make a donation to NNCCF. Unbeknownst to him, he walked into what would become a strong support system for his own son and family.

That night the Hartmans filled out the NNCCF Family Assistance application. NNCCF has the capability of helping young adults who are currently in treatment or in follow-up care for cancer. Many young adults are not eligible for assistance from organizations that specialize in helping children because the age of adulthood in the United States is 18. At NNCCF, as long as a young adult diagnosed with cancer submits an application before the age of 21, they are eligible for emotional and financial assistance until the age of 25.

In 2016, 144 families received support through NNCCF’s Family Assistance Fund and 19 percent of those children were over the age of 18. NNCCF expanded assistance to this older population three years ago to run parallel to its Inspire Survivorship Program that offers services such as scholarships and vocational training for young adults. Through generous grants, NNCCF afforded 15 cancer survivors $57,319 in scholarships through the Inspire Survivorship Program last year. This program offers survivors support and encouragement in the pursuit of achieving their dreams.

NNCCF provided support for the Hartmans as Johnny started aggressive chemotherapy back in January. The family is celebrating as Johnny recently completed his final day of chemotherapy last week, and is hopeful his next scan will continue to show no active cancer in his system. Johnny is ready to get back to normal life and resume studying to become an architect.

The day John walked into Scheels and met the NNCCF staff, there was one thing in particular that stuck with him. It was a response from NNCCF’s Executive Director Debbie Strickland upon hearing his family’s story: “It’s our turn to help you.” John was overwhelmed by the positivity and support he received after speaking with the staff and learning that his family was eligible for assistance. The Hartmans are eager to have Johnny healthy and to also give back to the foundation. One could say it was a bit of fate or a stroke of luck that John decided to give a donation that day. He may have never known that his son was eligible for assistance. NNCCF hopes to help all families with children in the fight against cancer so that they too can have the care and support system the Hartmans found.

*As of 5/1/2019 the NNCCF age cap has moved. NNCCF now serves young adults facing cancer until their 26th birthday.

The Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation is the region’s only local nonprofit solely dedicated to serving local children and their families affected by childhood cancer. NNCCF’s programs and services include the Family Assistance Fund, Inspire survivorship program, Adopt-a-Family program and emotional support through counseling and family activities.  For more information, call (775) 825-0888, visit www.nvchildrenscancer.org or follow on social media @NVKidsCancer.

 



Get Involved
titles_underlne
icon_1
Donate
icon_1
Volunteer
icon_1
Partner
logo
f_icon_1
Address
3550 Barron Way #9a Reno, Nevada 89511
f_icon_2
Phone
775-825-0888
f_icon_3
FAX
775-825-4726
f_icon_3
501c3
Non-profit
Tax ID: 20-8623503
FOLLOW US
Facebook
Instagram