But on Friday night, Jan. 29, it was all about solidarity.
For a second year, a handful of Springfield firefighters had their heads shaved publicly to raise awareness to the plight of 17-year-old Lambert and others like her — children locked in the fight of their lives.
The event, a collaboration between Springfield Firefighters Local 333 and Springfield High School’s special services club, looked to raise another $3,500 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to combat childhood cancer.
As Lambert gleefully raised the clippers to help shave one of 15 shockingly white heads before a Springfield High basketball game, you never could’ve guessed losing her hair has been the hardest part of her two-month battle.
Then again, misery loves company.
“When my hair decided to come out, it just fell out,” said Lambert, a student at Springfield-Clark CTC who’s studying to become a pastry chef when she isn’t dealing with a tumor half the size of a basketball in her right thigh.
The group of 15 “shavees” included firefighters and students. Five of the firefighters, including Sanders, were returning for a second year.
“I kept it shaved for a while to increase the awareness,” he said.
Then late last year, the school approached them about doing it again.
“I started letting it grow then,” Sanders said, “to add to the effect.”
For the fire division — admittedly hit hard by cancer, Sanders said — the kids are an inspiration.
“The common message is, I can get through this,” he said, “because I see kids putting up the fight.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0352 or
amcginn@coxohio.com.
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