By the time Vince Marbaso turned his clippers off, the hair from nine pairs of heads mingled on the floor of A Likely Story Bookstore. The head-shaving event on St. Patrick’s Day raised about $17,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money to fight childhood cancer. Among the newly bald: Del. David Englin (D-45) and Councilman Rob Krupicka, two of Alexandria’s elected leaders who hoped to bring attention and money to the cause.
“You look younger,” someone told Krupicka as his hair fell to the floor.
“I don’t need to look any younger,” said the 36-year-old councilman. “I still get carded when I go to restaurants!”
Since it was created in 1999, St. Baldrick’s Foundation has conducted head-shaving events in 10 countries and 42 states raising more than $20 million and shaving more than 26,000 heads. The name of the nonprofit is not an Irish saint — just a combination of St. Patrick and bald, which is what happens to the volunteers who put their quaffs in the crossfire. According to the St. Baldrick’s Web site Councilman Rob Krupicka’s bald head raised $695, and Del. Englin raised $421.
“It’s just hair,” said Englin, rubbing his scalp. “It’ll grow back. I hope.”