Hokies to shave heads for 7th straight year

Annual Shave for the Brave event to be held on Nov. 13 on the drill field

October 19, 2016

BLACKSBURG - For the past seven years, the Virginia Tech baseball program has participated in its signature event of its 19 Ways campaign - the “Shave for the Brave” - and this year’s “Shave” will be held on Sunday, November 13 at the drill field starting at Noon - War Memorial Hall will be used as an alternate site in case of inclement weather. The location for this year’s event is a bit different from season’s past mostly due to the fact that the Hokies will be teaming up with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in an effort to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research. The overall goal' for the event between the two organizations is to raise more than $80,000, while the baseball team is looking to raise $30,000.

Tech’s “Shave for the Brave” benefits the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization the program first started working with thanks to their relationship with Melina McAlwee, who raises money for cancer research in association with the foundation and “46 Mommas Shave for the Brave”. Her son Levi - an adopted member of the Tech baseball team - was diagnosed with medulloblastoma when he was four. Now 16, he is cancer free, but everyday 46 mothers in the United States are told their child has cancer, so the fight never ends.

The combined level of donation to St. Baldrick’s from the Tech baseball program in its previous six years of holding its “Shave” has almost touched $130,000. This year’s goal is two-fold, to push the total donation past the $150,000 milestone and to also add a little piece of hardware for their efforts.

Last year, St. Baldrick’s started a friendly competition called the “Battle of the Bald” - the ultimate college showdown with schools competing to see who can raise the most money. The Hokies finished second, roughly $4,000 shy of first place. St. Baldrick’s is continuing the competition for a second year, so teams can raise money through events between Sept. 1 and Dec. 5. On Dec. 15, the champion school will get to take home the Bald Cup. Check out the standings at the following site - CLICK HERE.

The team, along with the Cadets, will be turning to the web and social media to help with its fund-raising efforts. Going to the official site - CLICK HERE - gives all the details. Scroll down past “Top Participants” and click on “View All Team Members” and sponsor your favorite Hokie. Also, to help share information about the event, please use “#16VTShave” on social media posts.

The events is part of the baseball team’s 19 Ways campaign, which was started back in 2010 and challenges the members of the Tech baseball team to find 19 Ways to help make a difference within the community during the current academic year. The Hokies have already been involved with several initiatives, including Lemonade for Livy, Hokie Helpers and Special Olympics bowling. Other events anticipated for the seventh year of 19 Ways include assisting in the efforts with Micah’s Backpack, Taste of Inspiration (partners with the Special Olympics) and hosting a military appreciation breakfast, to name a few.

Go to the campaign’s Facebook page to view images of past events or to see update’s on the current year’s 19 Ways events. To suggest events or to make donations directly to 19 Ways, contact Phil Sciretta, Tech’s Director of Baseball Operations, by phone: (540) 231-9976 or email: philrs16@vt.edu. Also check the site, or the official Tech baseball twitter page - @VT_Baseball - to keep up-to-date on the 2016 Shave event.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Baseball