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Molly Spillane’s fundraises for childhood cancer

Molly Spillane’s is hoping to bring the Mamaroneck community together to “brave the shave” at its first annual St. Baldrick’s event.

The first St. Baldrick’s event was held on St. Patrick’s Day, making green a popular color at these events. Photos courtesy St.Baldricks.org
The first St. Baldrick’s event was held on St. Patrick’s Day, making green a popular color at these events.

For the past eight years, Stephen Carty, owner of Mickey Spillane’s in Eastchester and Molly Spillane’s in the village of Mamaroneck, has hosted a St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event at Mickey Spillane’s to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Over this time, the bar has managed to raise more than $300,000.

With a new location scheduled this year, Carty is hoping for a high turnout and for Molly Spillane’s to raise $15,000. As of press time, they have raised more than $4,000.

The event will be held at Molly Spillane’s in Mamaroneck on Saturday, March 25.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to raise funds to help find cures for children with cancer, was started in 1999 by Tim Kenny, John Bender and Enda McDonnel, who came up with the idea to raise donations by promising to shave their heads. The idea behind the event is to show solidarity with children who have lost their hair from chemotherapy. Leading up to the event, participants raise money to be donated to the charity.

In 2016, there were 1,233 St. Baldrick’s events held worldwide and more than $38 million raised.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation prides itself on being “the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants.” Its website goes on to explain that 70 percent of the money raised every year goes toward research, 26 percent of funds goes toward fundraising for the events, and 4 percent goes toward the business side of the charity.

“As charities go, it’s one that I felt was so upfront, no question where the money was going,” Carty said.

Carty added that he intends to host St. Baldrick’s at Molly Spillane’s for eight years, and then switch back to Mickey Spillane’s for another eight.

The owner explained that Mickey Spillane’s had a lot of involvement from police and fire departments.

“Our first event [that] we had in Eastchester, it really was community driven,” Carty said.

Next month, Molly Spillane’s will host its first St. Baldrick’s event in support of the largest private funder of cancer research grants. With a goal of shaving 40 heads and $15,000 in donations, the event will provide an opportunity for local residents to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer cures.
Next month, Molly Spillane’s will host its first St. Baldrick’s event in support of the largest private funder of cancer research grants. With a goal of shaving 40 heads and $15,000 in donations, the event will provide an opportunity for local residents to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer cures.

To date, the Eastchester EMS has gotten involved with Molly Spillane’s and is currently ranked as the team with the top donations, having raised more than $2,000.

“If we can just help one child with the funds raised here… it’s great for everyone,” Carty said.

Carty explained that one of the reasons the charity appeals to him is that St. Baldrick’s provides you with a list of cancer fighters and survivors in your area so that you can sponsor your own St. Baldrick’s event.

This year, Molly Spillane’s is honoring 8-year-old Margaret Sheker from Larchmont. Sheker is a cancer survivor, having overcome acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is a form of blood and bone marrow cancer.

Ashley Ferrara, co-organizer of the event and director of banquets at Molly Spillane’s, said she is working on reaching out to another local child as well. This is Ferrara’s first year participating in fundraising for St. Baldrick’s and although she doesn’t intend to shave her head, she has already raised $800 of her $2,000 goal.

The event has gotten everyone in the Molly Spillane’s family involved.

Jake Terenzi, a part-time bartender at Molly Spillane’s and co-organizer of the St. Baldrick’s event, said that getting on board with the event was an easy decision. He said that it sounded like a great idea, and wanted to help out as much as he could.

When he first got involved with the event he hadn’t planned on shaving his head, but has since changed his mind. “It’s for the kids, I mean why not. Hair eventually grows back,” he said.

St. Baldrick’s attendees shave their heads to show solidarity with children who lose their hair from cancer treatment. Photos courtesy Stbaldricks.org
St. Baldrick’s attendees shave their heads to show solidarity with children who lose their hair from cancer treatment. Photos courtesy Stbaldricks.org

Terenzi explained he has two goals for the event. One is to raise $2,000; he is currently at $525. His other goal is to get as many people to shave their heads as possible, which he explained has been harder than raising donations.

Last year, Mickey Spillane’s was able to get 38 “shavees”; Molly Spillane’s has a goal for this year of 40 people.

As of press time, Molly Spillane’s has more than 10 people signed up to shave their heads, including Carty’s wife, Geraldine Carty. “My wife, five years ago, shaved off her hair,” Carty said, adding that she raised roughly $20,000, and now shaves her head every year for the event.

Ferrara said that Trendon Lynch and Liam Quinn, both bartenders, are also planning to have their heads shaved.

And as the event day nears, Carty is hoping to get more of the local police and fire departments, and even the mayor, to participate.

“We’d love everyone to get involved, [because cancer] has touched everyone’s life,” Carty said.