Photos: True Grit Meets Shear Delight
On Sunday, hundreds flocked to the Westmere firehouse for the annual St. Baldrick’s event where kids and adults shave their heads to raise money for the Melodies Center at Albany Medical Center, which treats children with cancer. The event raised about $70,000.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
It all started with the heroes’ parade as Guilderland resident Cooper Lare, who has beaten Rhabdomyosarcoma, sits in the front seat of Westmere’s antique engine that leads the parade to the firehouse.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Applause greets the kids as they get off the fire trucks, their superhero capes flying.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Big hug: Addison Lare, left, reaches out to hug one of the little boys who were the stars of the day for their battles with cancer.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
The little heroes came together for resounding applause as each received a medal.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Then the shaving began! Hundreds of people, starting with the families of cancer survivors and medical staff, stepped up to the barbers’ chairs. Altamont resident Karrie Davis, a member of Team Gavin, smiles as she is shorn.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Leading the pack: The Schenectady Pipe Band plays while leading the heroes’ parade on Western Avenue Sunday morning in Guilderland. The annual St. Baldrick’s event at the Westmere firehouse raises money for fighting pediatric cancer.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Blowing out a tune: Paul Morris of the Schenectady Pipe Band plays his part, leading a parade of fire trucks transporting children who have fought or who are fighting cancer.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
One giant leap: A boy who is battling cancer wears a superhero’s cape as he hops off the Albany County Sheriff’s fire engine, with the help of his mother and Westmere junior firefighter Ryan Basile, to get to the red carpet that will lead him into the firehouse.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Big heroes meet little heroes: Kids get off a West Albany fire department engine as Westmere firefighters help them so they can walk the red carpet into the firehouse where they were greeted with a huge ovation before the shaving commenced at St. Baldrick’s.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Waiting for the stars: Attendees at the St. Baldrick’s event at the Westmere firehouse on Sunday morning await a child battling cancer to walk the red carpet after exiting a fire truck. More than 15 departments participated in the heroes’ parade.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Little superhero: Wearing a golden cape, a girl stoically leads her mother into the St. Baldrick’s event on Sunday.