Local Boy Preps For St. Baldrick's, Almost Doubles Goal

It's taken a few years, but one Nanuet 9-year-old is taking a deep breath and stepping up to the plate. Actually, he's stepping up a chair and is ready to go bald for this Sunday's St. Baldrick's Day.

Brendan Donnelly, a 4th grader at Highview Elementary School, has been wanting to do this for a couple years, said his mother, Jennifer. This year, the event will be at the Hennessy Center on the Dominican College campus from 11-3.

"He finally got the courage to do it," she said. Her son will join dozens of others who will shave their heads to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government and donations will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers.

"His grandmother and his aunt, who he was very close to, both died of
cancer," said Jennifer Donnelly. "Also, while he was on the St. Baldrick website and saw the pictures and stories of the children he would be helping, he made his decision.  He has sponsored three children from St. Baldrick's under his
profile. He's very excited that he's (almost) doubled his goal."

His goal was $1,000 but this 9-year-old has raised $1,860 so far. Here is the link to Donnelly's Donation Page. Out of all the individual participants, he's raised the second highest amount.

Donnelly currently plays lacrosse for Nanuet and he's not the only one from Nanuet joining in this cause. volunteer lead event organizer, is in his 10th year of going bald for the St. Baldrick's Day Foundation.

He's sponsoring:

• Nevaeh S.—a 5-year-old from the Bronx who is in treatment for Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
• Mickey R.—a 14-year-old from Tappan who is in treatment for Brain or spinal cord tumor
• Olivia L.—a 6-year-old from the Bronx who is in remission from Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)