WESTFIELD – For the second year in a row, Westfield State University students will participate in One Mission: The Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off, a fundraising project that benefits pediatric cancer patients, their families, and cancer research. Students will raise funds for a month and conclude with a ceremony on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. in the University Hall lobby in which participants shave their heads.
The organization One Mission spreads the donations in four ways: by giving smiles, including decorating hospital rooms, giving comfort by providing caregiver relaxation, giving assistance to individual families and research grants, and giving support by providing education and outreach programs.
The Buzz-Off was organized by the Class of 2016. Last year, the 20 students, faculty, and staff participated in the buzz- off and raised $7,300. Class President Ryan Losco said that surpassing their fundraising goal of $5,000 was inspirational.
“When a few council members and I presented the check to One Mission’s Buzz Off last summer, the feeling was one that words cannot express,” Losco said. “We were in a sea of people who all supported the same cause as us and there was nothing but positivity in the air. We heard testimonials from families who have benefited from this organization and it really made us feel like our event had a positive impact.”
Losco said the Class of 2016 hopes to double the number of team members that agree to shave their heads. They also hope to raise $10,000 from this year’s event and they are calling upon students, faculty, staff, and Westfield community members to donate and help them reach their goal.
There is no better feeling than knowing your hard work is going to benefit somebody who really needs it,” Losco said. “It is important for people to reach out and give a helping hand because you will never know when you will need somebody to help you.”
Donations can be made by visiting the university’s fundraising page at: http://my.e2rm.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=580690&langPref=en-CA.
