On September 25, Teaneck resident Eliana Schochet and Shelomzion Steinmetz-Silber of Manhattan performed a mitzvah that is probably pretty unique among their social set. These SAR 10th graders, as part of St. Baldrick’s Headshaving Event & Auction, shaved their heads to support childhood cancer research.

According to their fundraising page, taken from St. Baldrick’s literature, “Worldwide, a child is diagnosed every two minutes. That’s 300,000 kids every year. More children are lost to cancer in the U.S. than any other disease—in fact, more than many other childhood diseases combined.

“But even for kids who survive, the battle is not over… A recent study shows that because of the treatments they had as kids, by the time they’re 45, more than 95 percent of survivors will have a chronic health problem and 80 percent will have severe or life-threatening conditions.

“In addition to finding cures, a lot of research is focused on preventing the lifelong damage that results from surgeries, radiation and chemotherapies given while young bodies and brains are just developing.”

Their page goes on to say that only four percent of U.S. federal funding is dedicated to childhood cancer research.

“If you are reading this right now, know that you can do something. If every person reading this gives what they can, together we can move one step closer to cures for childhood cancers!”

Their team page honors three brave children: Andrew G., age 15, who is currently cancer-free after treatment for neuroblastoma; Zoee S., age 8, who is in remission after treatment for neuroblastoma; and Caden, who succumbed to a brain or spinal cord tumor. The girls did not know these children personally, but were moved by their stories and wanted to honor them.

As of this writing, the girls had raised just over 50 percent of their goal of $10,000. Kol hakavod, girls!

For more information or to donate, please visit www.stbaldricks.org/teams/weshavetosave.

By Jill Kirsch