25th anniversary: St. Baldrick’s continues to fundraise and fight for a cure to childhood cancer

The past 25 years have both impressed and humbled Northport resident Lynn Kenny, whose involvement in the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has seen the homegrown charity raise hundreds of millions of dollars since its inception in 1999. 

Born on the deck of her Northport home, where her then-husband Tim Kenny and his colleagues John Bender and Enda McDonnell brainstormed a head-shaving challenge that would reciprocate their good fortune in business in the form of donations to help kids with cancer, St. Baldrick’s has grown into the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research grants.

The first St. Baldrick’s event, held at Jim Brady’s pub in Manhattan on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000, greatly exceeded fundraising expectations, with $104,000 donated to fund the research of the Children’s Oncology Group. 

By 2002, 37 head-shaving events brought the tally of funds raised to more than $1 million, and the volunteer-driven event caught on nationwide. 

In 2004, the founders made it official and the fundraiser became a foundation. St. Baldrick’s is now the largest charity funder of childhood cancer research grants, increasing awareness of childhood cancer every year and donating more than $340 million to the cause since 2005. 

“The 25th anniversary of St. Baldrick's means perseverance,” Lynn Kenny said in an interview with the Journal earlier this week. Now the lead organizer for the annual St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event and fundraiser at Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub in Northport, Kenny has seen the charity through from day one and remains dedicated to its mission. “We will not give up in our fight against childhood cancer until it no longer exists,” she said. What started as one singular event is now held in over 31 countries – and Northport can hold its head high, Kenny said, knowing the community has raised over $6 million for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s efforts alone. 

The tradition at Napper Tandy’s began in 2000, when Northport resident John McKenna and a committee of volunteers brought the St. Baldrick’s Day event to its hometown. Every year, men, women and children sign up to have their heads shaved in an act of solidarity, and in the hopes of finding a cure for childhood cancer. The event also brings spectators and supporters who partake in the day’s festivities, which include raffles and a 50/50, the sale of sports memorabilia, and an overwhelming sense of camaraderie and community. 

This year will be especially emotional, Kenny said, as one of the community’s longest-participating shavees, 80-year-old Betty Reidenbach, will be honoring her grandson Kenneth, who shaved his head alongside his grandmother in March 2023. Kenneth was diagnosed with cancer that following summer; he passed away just six months later, at age 18. 

Betty has been designated as a “Baron of the Brave,” an honor given to those who have braved the shave for 20 years. This will be her 21st year.

“Cancer is something that affects everyone,” Kenny said. “Until we find a cure, the challenge to beat childhood cancer will continue.”  

This year’s St. Baldrick’s event will take place at Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub, 229 Laurel Avenue in Northport, on Saturday, March 9 from 12 to 5pm. To join St. Baldrick’s very local efforts and support the Napper Tandy event via a donation or by participating, click here. The event’s group of volunteers is always looking for more helpers; those interested in lending a hand this year or in the future can contact Lynn Kenny at the link listed above.