I’m sure you are aware of by now (especially since the posts been on this page for a year staring at you every time you visit) that back just over a year ago before I went on hiatus (July 23, 2010 to be exact) I was a proud participant in St. Baldrick’s Day. The St. Baldrick’s Charity helps to raise money for children’s cancer research, helps offset payment for medical bills and finds kids as well as their parents temporary housing while being treated for cancer, and helps spread the word about cancer awareness. In short, it’s a great charity for a great cause and one that hits home (cancer runs in my family claiming both my paternal grandmother’s life and my father’s life) so when DJ SlipK and Skow of the East asked me to join them on the Metal Brethen St. Baldrick’s team it was an absolute no brainer– and so it began.
After weeks of pushing both online and in person for donations, I was able to squeak together $230 for the cause; which I turned in at the event. The Metal Brethren as a whole brought in a combined amount of $2,273; which is not too shabby.
The event doesn’t end with just raising funds, but actually ends in a party thrown at a supporting venue who also contributes funds, as well as, shaves the heads of all who participated as a showing of solidarity with cancer patients who during them chemotherapy treatment also experience hair loss.
All the toil of raising funds, trucking down to the venue, and raising yet more funds before having all your hair shaved off is absolutely worth it– again it’s a great cause and the money is used to help kids out, so how can you go wrong? You can’t.
Metro 53 (307 east 53rd Street; New York, NY 10009) was our host venue and what a venue it was– they had three full stocked bars and was exactly what you would expect of a midtown Manhattan club– absolutely posh. We were checked in, given our tee shirts, and then waited for things to begin.
I should add that the Metal Brethren was led by Ken Pierce. Any event involving Ken Pierce (of Piercing Metal.com  fame) is going to be insane and Ken brought his A-game buying all in sight God knows how many rounds. He’s a class act guy and if you’re into rock or metal definitely check his site out.
A lot of people showed up in support of our team. My lovely wife Chrissy came along, as well as, a bunch of our friends and family members. Drinks were on the house as were hors d’oeuvres for over an hour.
Shortly after that, the head shaving began. Our barber was obviously not a professional– in fact I’m not even sure she had seen a razor before. It was quite the chop job, but the end results were close enough for effect if not crudely done. Again, it’s for the kids so it is what it is as they say.
More drinks were had afterwards and we partied to the wee hours of the night. Metro 53 did all sorts of donation pushes throughout the event and the total raised was several thousand dollars, which is pretty cool. Every body was tossing cash into the donation bucket and it was incredibly cool of Metro 53 to do both an extended free drink hour and to do drink specials all night long. This encouraged some very generous “give back” on the patrons’ part and I absolutely salute them for their goodwill– excellent show and a place I’d highly recommend visiting except that unfortunately a few months ago it shut down.
You can find some pics in the gallery below showing the night as it progressed and I’d like to thank all of those who contributed donations to our pledge drive, as well as, thank all those fine folks who turned out to watch the head shaving and get some good drinks– all for the kids. And to those kids– I salute you all and hope that this small bit of charity helps to ease your ills just a little bit.
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