MEDIA: St. Baldrick's Day in New Lenox

Melanie Nelson, the 11-year-old Bentley School 5th-grader who has been cancer-free for nearly five years, got her head shaved March 23 at the St. Baldrick's Day fundraising event at the 14414 Ford Drive.

Along with classmate 11-year-old Abby Kruizenga, Nelson was part of a packed house full of well intentioned shavees who stepped into the barber's chair to raise funds for the St. Baldrick's Foundation. The foundation is established to raise funds for researching childhood cancers. 

New Lenox's 8-year-old Lorelai Rinker, of New Lenox, sacrificed her shoulder-length hair too.

It was a packed house for the event that started at 5 p.m. A DJ and plenty of food kept the place hopping as one-after-one community members stepped forward for a good cause.

The teams were comprised from youth sports to representatives from the New Lenox Police Department. Youth groups, Joliet Jaguars Hockey Club and Rink Rats from Orland Park, came out to support the New Lenox community as well.

Caleb Hack, an 11-year-old Spencer Crossing School 5th grader, said he got his head shaved to support classmate Anna Bakotic, who is currently enduring a battle with cancer.  

 Readers might like:

• St. Baldrick's Day Marriage Proposal

Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Lincoln-Way Patch sites:

• New Lenox newsletter and New Lenox Patch Facebook

• Frankfort newsletter and Frankfort Patch Facebook

• Mokena newsletter and Mokena Patch Facebook