At Bear Tavern Elementary and Timberlane Middle School, students didn’t just show up for class this past week—they showed up for a cause. More than 125 students and adults from the Hopewell Valley took a bold stand in the fight against childhood cancer, shaving their heads in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest private funder of children’s cancer research.
The energy at both schools was electric, fueled by a friendly competition between Bear Tavern and Timberlane to see who could raise the most money. On Friday, Bear Tavern students gathered outside as their classmates and teachers took the plunge. Just days later, on Tuesday, Timberlane Middle School hosted its own event, with more than 45 students, teachers and alumni shaving their heads in front of their peers.
For some participants, the event wasn’t just about shaving their heads—it was also about giving back in another way. Several students and teachers donated their long hair to Wigs for Kids, an organization that provides free wigs to children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments, alopecia, or other medical conditions.
At Bear Tavern, fifth grader Luke Flores, who had long hair until Friday, donated 11 inches of hair two years ago to be made into a wig. Since then, he hadn’t had much of a haircut. This year, before taking the ultimate step—shaving his head to raise money for research and to show solidarity with children battling cancer—he donated his hair once again so it could be made into a wig for kids in need.
“I’m doing this to find a cure for cancer,” Flores said.
The success of the event also wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of volunteer barbers and stylists from Borough Barbers and The Friends Salon, two local businesses that donated their time and skills to support the cause. Their expertise ensured that every participant—from students to teachers to longtime St. Baldrick’s supporters—left with a fresh new look and a powerful sense of purpose.
A top 10 team in the country
At Timberlane, students, staff and alumni gathered in the school gym, cheering on their classmates, and watching teachers eat crickets or baby food as part of a teacher “Fear Factor” challenge—adding an extra layer of fun to the event.
“It takes a lot of courage to do this, so for you to decide to shave your head for this amazing cause shows so much about the people you are,” said Chris Turnbull, principal of Timberlane Middle School. “I am blown away by your character and am proud of you.”
He also reminded them of the real impact of their efforts.
“It costs about $150,000 to fund a single childhood cancer research study,” he said. “That’s exactly how much this community has raised this year. Think about that—because of you, someone’s research study will happen, and that study could lead to a cure. That’s the power of what you’re doing today.”
These school-based efforts were part of a larger, multi-generational community movement that has been growing for nearly two decades across Lawrenceville and Hopewell. This combined St. Baldrick’s team, which also includes schools from Lawrenceville, is currently ranked seventh in the nation for fundraising, with more than $150,000 raised so far in 2025—and a staggering $2.3 million since the event began locally in 2007.
And as for the Bear Tavern vs. Timberlane rivalry? The race was close, with each school pushing to out-fundraise the other, but in the end, it wasn’t just about winning—it was about making an impact, with each school raising about $30,000 this year.
On Saturday, the tradition continued at Amalfi’s in Lawrenceville, where about 30 more participants took the stage, including event co-founder Dr. Mike McCue.
“We’ve just raised too much money to stop,” McCue said. “This is such an awesome cause, and it’s great that anyone can participate—kids, adults, anyone. You raise some money, shave your head and show support for kids who don’t have a choice.”
McCue first got involved 18 years ago after seeing an online ad. Unlike many fundraisers that involve walks or runs, he was drawn to the powerful simplicity of the head-shaving movement—a visible, unifying act of support for kids with cancer.
A community that keeps showing up
The impact of St. Baldrick’s goes far beyond the barbershop chair. Since its founding, St. Baldrick’s has raised more than $350 million to fund childhood cancer research, supporting groundbreaking work at hospitals and research institutions across the country—including right here in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Beneficiaries of these funds include The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Rutgers Cancer Institute and K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Hackensack Meridian, where researchers are working to develop new treatments, improve survival rates and lessen the long-term effects of cancer treatments on children. Every dollar raised by events like those in Hopewell and Lawrenceville plays a role in advancing this critical research, bringing hope to families, and moving science closer to a cure.
A legacy of dedication
In the early days of St. Baldrick’s events in the area, Amalfi’s was the main gathering spot, with more than 150 people from area schools and the community participating each year.
Clifton “Cliff” Perry, one of the five founding members of the Lawrenceville event, has personally raised more than $220,000 since he started. This year alone, he brought in more than $9,000, thanks to the more than 60 donors who support him year after year.
“For me, it started when my youngest daughter was sick at CHOP,” Perry said. “We were lucky—she got better, and we got to walk out of the hospital together. But that experience changed me. As a dad, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my kids. And there are too many families who don’t get to walk out together.”
“It’s not that hard to shave my head. But what’s hard is knowing we still don’t have a cure for childhood cancer. That’s why I keep going. I hope someone else will pick it up when I can’t anymore.”
All photos were taken by Seth Siditsky
