The Catskill Chronicle

Story by Carol Montana, Photos by Stephen Lavelle

LIBERTY – Following upon the heels of the biggest snowstorm in years came torrential downpours and howling winds. But nothing could dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of several hundred people who turned out to support the quest to find a cure for pediatric cancer.

The event was the 4^th Annual St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser organized by Fay Cerullo of Liberty whose son Ryan was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2005 at the age of 15. During Ryan’s treatment, Cerullo met other patients and their parents who were involved with fundraising for St. Baldrick’s. “At the time, five other kids in our area were also sick or recuperating from cancer,” said Cerullo. Those circumstances got her involved with St. Baldrick’s, a non-profit organization that raises and donates funds for pediatric cancer research. One of the ways people raise funds for St. Baldrick’s – emphasis on Bald – is to solicit funds while promising to shave their heads.

And so, on Saturday, March 13, there wasn’t a parking spot available at the Liberty Firehouse as lots of people came out as shavees or supporters of shavees. Inside the firehouse pandemonium reigned as four volunteer beauticians – Kimberly Kimball, Erin Allan, Beth Bernitt, Melanie Polomcean – created designs on people’s heads with their razors, while spectators hooted and hollered their support.

Egging everyone on was Lord of the Trout Lou Monteleone of Eldred, who was taking on-the-spot donations from people to either leave the design on the person’s head or continue with the shaving. “We’re getting money to get them to stop or keep them going. It’s all about money. Cash talks,” said Monteleone as cheers and shouts and unbridled enthusiasm filled the firehouse.

Radio station Thunder 102, which had been promoting the event for several weeks, was on hand, not only to help out, but also to participate. Both Paul Ciliberto of the morning show Ciliberto and Friends, and Mike Sakell of Sakell in the Afternoon decided to participate in the most personal way they could, by getting their heads shaved. “This is the first time I’ve been at a barber that has an audience,” said Ciliberto whose co-worker Regina Hensley said he looked like Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers movie. “What can I tell you, Erin usually cuts my hair so it’s not like I’m nervous or anything,” said Sakell as his hairdresser carved a big 102 on his head with her electric razor. Both Sakell and Ciliberto have been participating for several years now.

Ciliberto said that his hair will grow back in about two months, in time to come off again at the Conga Line Across America event that Monteleone is running in September. At the Saturday event, Ciliberto said, “I’m always amazed at the turnout, but more than that, what impresses me about this is just what you feel in this room. The spirit in here is incredible. Everybody from all different ages, you got a group of kids hanging out having a good time, everybody cheering for people they don’t even know getting their heads shaved. Even before dollar one is raised, it’s the awareness and the spirit that makes things like this so special.

Thunder 102’s Sakell says his hair grows back more quickly, in about a month or so and says that he won’t mind being bald because he wears his Thunder hat most of the time. His wife Sue is very supportive. “Listen,” Sakell continued, “the last few years I’ve been losing a lot more hair anyway, so it’s not real stretch to go from that to this.”

Champion fundraiser this year was Sullivan County Democrat columnist Jeanne Sager who raised $1030. “I asked everyone on my Facebook list, everyone I e-mailed. I sent out so many.” Sager, who has been shaving her head for several years got a couple of really big donations including $200 from her young daughter, Jillian, who got some help from her daddy with writing the check.

Mary Edwards, who was getting her head shaved for the second time for the cause, was proud of her young son who was sitting in the chair beside her getting his locks shorn. Charlie Barbuti was a supportive spectator there for his good friend Corby Coney. And Geri Ellen Neumann was there, not only as a spectator, but also as a donor and a concerned mother. Neumann donated in honor of her daughter Ellen Rose, “who is going through chemo. She was diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia), a cancer of the white blood cells on 11/3/2008. Ellen Rose is still undergoing treatment and her cancer is treatable and curable. “She is a survivor,” said Neumann. “These organizations are important for the research to cure children of these life-threatening diseases.”

Peter Hare was there, too, along with his son, Justin, and his father, Joseph. Hare, who goes hairless all summer and then grows it back for the St. Baldrick’s event, became a supporter several years ago through a friend from the Livingston Manor Rotary Club. “Last year we collected in the name of my friend Pat Casey, who had cancer and who passed away, and now we collect it in his memory,” reported Hare.

As the organizer of the event, Cerullo was extremely happy with the turnout. “This is a hard year for people. The weather is terrible, people are coming out anyway, they’re excited, they’re happy, they’re turning something horrible into something really positive.

Cerullo explained that there were two more events following Saturday’s. Cast members from the Liberty High School musical Grease will be having their hair shaved following the final performance, and an a cappella event at Liberty High School in April will donate 50% of the proceeds to St. Baldrick’s. The Saturday event raised $11,000.

Donations are still being accepted. Go to www.StBaldricks.org, click on “find an event” type in “Liberty, NY” and you will be see donations button. Or, you can call Cerullo at 845-707-3618 – for information about St. Baldrick’s and donation. To donate to Monteleone’s September event go to the St. Baldrick’s Web site and type in “conga.”

One person who didn’t get her head shaved was Michelle Semerano of Thunder 102 who said “I think my mother dropped me on my head when I was a kid. I think I have some dents that aren’t too pretty, and it’s my civic duty not to inflict the site of those dents on the world.” On a serious note, however, Semerano did say she would shave someday and added, “The most important thing is raising awareness for this great foundation that is trying to cure pediatric cancer, which is something that is close to my heart. Watching my mom go through breast cancer, there were kids in the room on the days she had chemo. My mom would look at me and say ‘I’m an adult and I can handle this, but no child should have to go through this.’”

To see more photos or to purchase prints from Shaving It All Off for St. Baldrick’s, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.