Coast Guard members from Marine Safety Unit Portland, Ore., have their heads shaved during a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. The Coast Guard raised an estimated $1400 for children's cancer research. Video by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert
Coast Guard Chief Arrene Zitting has her head shaved during a fundraising event for the St. Baldrick's Foundation at Marine Safety Unit Portland, Ore., Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Coast Guard members from MSU Portland donated an estimate of $1400 to fund children's cancer research. Photo by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert
Coast Guard members at Marine Safety Unit Portland, Ore., have their heads shaved during a fundraising event for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Coast Guard members from MSU Portland donated an estimate of $1400 to fund children's cancer research. Photo by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert
PORTLAND, Ore. — Coast Guard members from Marine Safety Unit Portland teamed with the St. Baldrick's Foundation to raise money for children's cancer research Friday.
Members of MSU Portland asked coworkers, family and friends to donate to the worthy cause in exchange for a close shave that left more than a dozen members bald. It's estimated the Coast Guard raised more than $1400 for the charity.
"Being a parent myself I tried to put myself into the position of one of the parents of a child with cancer," said Chief Arrene Zitting. "I felt if I could do something to help then I would."
Zitting worked with the command at MSU Portland to arrange the fundraiser and students from the Marinello School of Beauty in Portland offered their clippers to help.
"I’ve been told that shaving my head as a female is brave, but nothing I can do can compare to how brave these kids and their families are," said Zitting.