RANDOLPH — Tim and Mindy McQuaid hoped to raise $20,000 last year during their first-ever St.
Baldrick’s Foundation charity event to benefit childhood cancer victims. Not only did they raise $20,000 the day of the event, they generated $104,000 for the nonprofit organization. “It was unbelievable,” said Mindy McQuaid, who co-owns J.T. McQ’s, the bar on Route 10 where they’ll hold a similar event at noon May 16. “We were so amazed by all the generosity of everybody.” For a $50 donation, people can have their heads shaved by a professional barber in order to show solidarity with children undergoing chemotherapy who’ve lost their hair. St. Baldrick’s events are held year-long and nationwide but have roots in St. Patrick’s Day in 2000 when three New York buddies challenged friends and co-workers to help raise money for sick children. They decided to use the head-shaving request to boost participation, and it worked. The McQuaids estimate they’ll have more than 60 people getting their heads shaved, including a local Boy Scout troop and firefighters.
“We would love more volunteers, shavees, barbers — we have to use licensed barbers,” Mindy McQuaid said.