If you’re going to shave your head, you might as well do it for a good cause.
As Isabelle Droste helped put the finishing touches on planning this year’s Shave for the Brave event to support childhood cancer, she reflected on the very real — and very personal — impacts that this fun, laughter-filled event can have on those whom it supports.
“When I was in high school, my little brother was diagnosed with brain cancer,” Droste, a senior majoring in political science and psychology, said. “Obviously, I became well aware of all the organizations that support childhood cancer treatment and research. My high school was about to have its annual Shave for the Brave event to support St. Baldrick’s Foundation for childhood cancer research, and I decided to shave my head.”
A nationwide event for schools and campuses around the country for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Shave for the Brave lets attendees donate money or shave their head to raise awareness for — and be in solidarity with — children suffering from cancer. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln held a Shave for the Brave April 4 in the Willa Cather Dining Complex.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation was founded in 1999 and quickly went national, raising money for childhood cancer research. The first head-shaving event was held on St. Patrick’s Day in 2000 in Manhattan, New York. As of 2023, the foundation has raised $342 million.
As a high schooler in Alton, Illinois, Droste recalled having some very special support while shaving her head.
“My brother came and held my hand the entire time,” she said.
Now at Nebraska and vice president of recruitment for the National Residence Hall Honorary, which hosted Shave for the Brave, Droste was eager to encourage her fellow Huskers to get involved and support children and families in situations similar to her own.
For Droste, holding this event on campus is a reminder of the bond she has with her brother and the enduring sense of love and gratitude she feels.
“My brother and I are best friends — if I had to do anything for anyone in this world, it would be him,” she said. “Thankfully, he’s still here with us, but I know that’s not a lot of families’ outcomes. Continuing to spread awareness is really important to me.”
